ICT adviser Nahid Islam, also a key coordinator of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM), Friday refuted claims that the student front is considering forming its own political party to contest in general elections and break the Awami League-BNP duopoly in national politics.

Earlier on Friday, a number of Bangladeshi news outlets published translated and edited versions of a Reuters special report which cited confessions by several ADSM coordinators to working on a new party. Notably, ADSM led the movement to ultimately end Awami League’s (AL) 16-year authoritarian rule on August 5.

The Reuters report implies that Mahfuz is pursuing the “minus two formula,” which is not the case, he told later. The “minus two formula” surfaced during the last caretaker government amid suspected attempts by the military to permanently exclude the chiefs of Awami League and BNP from national politics.

Speaking with Reuters, Mahfuz had rather talked about introducing a new government framework that would make those coming to power, irrespective of their party affiliations, accountable to the general people, he later clarified. This new framework or system would forever banish any recourse to fascist governance, he said.

Nahid agreed with Mahfuz saying the outline of this new government framework would be decided after discussions with various stakeholders of the society as well as the state. The final version would be presented before the people in due time.

The coordinators of the group have a huge task at hand and are not thinking about forming a political party at the moment, Nahid noted.

At present, ADSM is working to preserve the spirit of the August mass upsurge and strengthen the present interim government.

bd-pratidin/GR