A new platform emerges: Who's calling the shots?

In the wake of recent upheavals, new political players are rising from the student protests, sparking both intrigue and questions about their agenda and influence. 

Leading figures from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have recently rallied around the idea of a "National Revolutionary Council."

This emerging entity, although lacking a formal structure, has already drawn attention by promoting bold ideas like restructuring national governance and integrating the military into the country’s power apparatus. 

A rising political agenda

Several factions are associated with this initiative, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Abdul Hannan Masud, and Abu Bakr Majumdar. While officially detached, these leaders and their followers seem committed to reshaping the political landscape. Another faction has also surfaced under the “National Citizen Committee,” while a third is directly working to establish the “National Revolutionary Council” as a political force. They’ve even formed a student wing, the Revolutionary Student Council, and are actively working to create professional branches for journalists, educators, and other sectors.

The Revolutionary Council has yet to appoint an official committee, but they’ve organised university-based groups and, on November 7, hosted a high-profile event at Dhaka University titled, “State Reorganisation through Soldier-Citizen Unity: New Proposals for National Security.” Their proposal includes six major points, some of which advocate the military’s direct involvement in national security and financial oversight, sparking debate and questions about the group's goals.

Calling for military integration in governance

The council’s proposals are ambitious. In the first phase, they call for dissolving the current constitution to support an interim government led by President Muhammad Yunus, with the promise of future elections. They propose a National Security Council chaired by Yunus, with the Army Chief as Vice Chairman and a mix of high-level officials from all branches of government. This council would guide the nation’s security, financial stability, and law enforcement.

Notably, the council’s draft includes provisions for the military to oversee financial sectors like banking and to deploy personnel to every upazila for ongoing security. In their final phase, they propose purging “fascist” and “corrupt” figures from the government and replacing them with “patriotic” former military and civil officers. The Revolutionary Council seems determined to establish a new regime where military oversight plays a crucial role.

Who’s leading the council?

The Revolutionary Council’s guiding voice appears to be Khomenee Ihsan, a figure with a compelling backstory. Known as an expatriate and former Dhaka University journalism student, Khomenee Ihsan once worked with media outlets in Bangladesh before reportedly leaving due to political tensions. 

Khomenee is credited with a significant role in the July Revolution, and it is rumoured that he may soon return to lead the new political party in person.

Now, he’s credited as the council’s principal thinker, drawing inspiration from past revolutionary figures and calling for a return to the values of the pre-colonial Bengal Sultanate.

In a conversation with Jago News, Khomenee Ihsan laid out the council’s vision. “We aim to reconstruct Bangladesh based on modern geopolitics and the principles of global cooperation. Our council seeks to rebuild Bangladesh's political landscape in alignment with global geopolitics and the world order," he explained. 

"We respect international leaders, including those in the US and China, and aim to strengthen Bangladesh through their insights and cooperation. We are grounded in practical solutions, aiming to lead from the streets to the parliament, free from any ideological stubbornness or narrow-mindedness."

Addressing critics, Khomenee said, "Those who challenge us often do so from the confines of traditional Bangladeshi politics. To understand the meritocratic Revolutionary Council, you must step beyond this. We are neither populists nor fragmented; we are unified and focused. As we build our organisation, even major parties will eventually be directed by their own leaders to align with us. Our greatest challenge lies within ourselves."

While discussing the council's ties to the interim government, Khomenee clarified, "We currently operate informally within the Revolutionary Council’s sphere of influence, although we consciously remain outside the advisory council. At the core, we are aligned with the government on strategic and policy fronts."

Bringing back the Bengal Sultanate: A new ideological platform

Leaders of the National Revolutionary Council, including Zakir Majumder, are pushing a political philosophy steeped in a revival of the Bengal Sultanate model. To them, this era represented unity among diverse groups, economic strength, and social order. Majumder outlined the council’s agenda, emphasising a commitment to equality, justice, and human dignity. “Our inspiration lies in Muslim nationalism and a return to a prosperous, inclusive society,” Majumder explained. He envisions Bangladesh not just as a sovereign state but as a cornerstone of the Muslim world’s democratic aspirations.

Formation of the Revolutionary Student Council

The National Revolutionary Council’s youth division, the Revolutionary Student Council, has already formed a convening committee. Led by Abdul Wahed, with Fazlur Rahman as member secretary, and Sanwara Khatun as Dhaka University unit convener, the group is actively recruiting from Dhaka and other universities. Wahed said, "The Revolutionary Student Council has been established to guide Bangladesh’s governance after the August 5 revolution. With the banning of our main adversary, the Chhatra League, we are now engaging with a diverse landscape of student groups—from anti-discrimination movements to nationalist, Islamic, and leftist student organisations. Insha'Allah, the Revolutionary Student Council will surpass these groups to become Bangladesh’s primary student organization and lead the country towards a meritocratic future. We see ourselves as the inheritors of Bangladesh’s rich Muslim heritage and the torchbearers of modern knowledge. By bringing national leadership to our ranks, we believe the Muslim world can play a vital role in the global democratic movement. Insha'Allah, with the support of both Eastern and Western civilizations, we will move forward in cooperation and progress."

The Council’s call to action

Publicly, the council has begun calling for support, inviting citizens to join their ranks through online forms. Their statement reads: “We aim to politically organise and empower the revolutionaries of August 2024, so they can lead state reform and establish a national consensus across party lines. We aim to dismantle counter-revolutionaries within government and usher in a revolutionary government dedicated to justice, sovereignty, and people’s rights.”

In what many see as a symbolic overture, the council’s statement concludes, “All our responsibilities are dedicated to Almighty Allah. We seek His guidance for a second freedom.” The rhetoric may be bold, but for a population accustomed to political turbulence, the council’s emergence is yet another twist in Bangladesh’s ever-evolving political landscape.

What lies ahead?

As the Revolutionary Council organises itself and aligns with other movements, it remains to be seen how much influence it can wield in the current political environment. For now, their appeal rests on promises of reform, a reimagined governance model, and a rhetoric of unity that draws as much from historical nostalgia as from global politics.