Dhaka, Feb. 28, (dpa/GNA) – Bangladeshi students who played a key role in last year’s uprising that led to the downfall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina have officially launched a new political party aimed at promoting national unity and overcoming division in the South Asian country.

Meem Akhter, whose brother was among those killed during the anti-Hasina protests, announced the formation of the Jatiya Nagarik Party (National Citizen Party, or NCP), at a rally in Dhaka’s central Manik Mia Avenue, near the parliament building, on Friday.

Thousands of people, mostly youths, attended the event.

Nahid Islam, a prominent leader from the July-August protests, was named as the party’s convener, while Akhter Hossain, another key figure in the uprising, has been appointed the party’s member secretary.

During the launch, Hossain introduced a 151-member committee for the party. The event was also attended by political leaders, civil society representatives, and a few foreign diplomats.

The formation of the NCP aims to carve out a new space in Bangladesh’s political scene, which has been dominated for decades by the rivalry between the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), headed by Khaleda Zia.

The two women have alternated in power since the 1990s.

“From this platform today, we take an oath that Bangladesh would never be divided again,” said Nahid Islam, 26, who was an advisor in the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus before resigning last week to float the new party.

The formation of the NCP follows the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August after 15 years in power.

GNA