Another new political party -- Janata Party Bangladesh -- was launched on Friday.
Ilias Kanchan, a film actor and the Nirapad Sarak Andolan (safe road movement) chair, and Shaukat Mahmood, an expelled Bangladesh Nationalist Party vice-chair and journalist,聽 were announced as the party chair and the secretary-general respectively in a launching ceremony.
Organisers of the new party in the launching event at a Dhaka hotel said their organisation will be a centrist and liberal democratic party.
The party manifesto and the names of other party office-bearers were also unveiled in the event.
Party chairman Ilias Kanchan said his party will soon apply for registration to the Election Commission.
Reading out the party manifesto, Shaukat Mahmood, also a former president of the National Press Club, said the party policy comprises absolute faith in Allah, Bangladeshi nationalism, liberty to practice religion and culture, and religious harmony.
Citing surah Al-Baqarah from the Quran, he said the party鈥檚 centrist position will guide it to remain 鈥榡ust鈥� rather than 鈥榗ompromising鈥�.
Janata Party Bangladesh supports the ongoing state reform initiatives.
Shaukat said, 鈥楢 July Charter is essential. Leaving reforms for the next parliament to implement will be suicidal.鈥櫬�
The party manifesto condemned aggressions in Gaza and Ukraine.
Strengthening measures against road accidents and corruption, among other things, was recommended in the manifesto.
Meanwhile, the new party called for an independent judiciary, freedom of press, and a congenial environment for foreign and local investment.聽
It demanded special allowances for religious preachers and fair wages for the workers.
Shaukat, who was expelled from the BNP two years ago, also said a distance between him and the BNP was created as he initiated a national platform for a just society which many BNP leaders took as a conspiracy.
Golam Sarwar Milon was made the party spokesperson while Rafiqul Haque, ABM Waliur Rahman Khan, Rehana Salam, Mohammad Abdullah, MA Yusuf, and Nirmal Chakraborty were announced vice-chairs among the 27-member party central committee.
Currently, the number of registered political parties in the country is 49.
