Jatiya Nagarik Committee to remain non-political: Sarjis Alam

Panchagarh, 27 Dec – Sarjis Alam, general secretary of July Shaheed Smrity Foundation and chief organizer of Jatiya Nagarik Committee (National Citizens Committee), on Friday said that the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee are non-political platforms and will remain so in the future.

Speaking at a view-sharing meeting organized by the Jatiya Nagarik Committee in Panchagarh, Sarjis said the organization would act as a pressure group to ensure accountability, regardless of the ruling government.

“Our goal is to nurture future leadership in Bangladesh,” he added.

Referring to past administrations, he criticized the culture of lobbying, describing it as a hindrance to genuine reform.

“We aim to start a cleansing campaign. I don’t believe in lobbying,” Sarjis said.

He alleged that Sheikh Hasina had engaged in numerous misdeeds under the guise of infrastructural development over the past 16 years, saying, “Sheikh Hasina had made the metrorail, Padma Bridge, Expressway, Karnaphuli Tunnel visible in the last 16 years.”

“One term is sufficient to build a few such projects, but what we have witnessed over the past three to four terms is the use of these infrastructures to cover up misdeeds and corruption,” Sarjis alleged.

He noted that using significant infrastructure projects to mask systemic issues could lead to long-term problems for the nation.