Khwaja Masum Bellah Kausarey: August 5, 2024, was a special day in the political and social history of Bangladesh. A new transformation at the state level began through the mass uprising of students and the general public. At that time, the law and order situation of the country collapsed, especially in the elite and semi-elite areas of the capital Dhaka, where various kinds of unrest and clashes occurred.
In this context, through the sincere efforts of a few conscious citizens of New Town, the “New Town Society” was established with the aim of bringing peace, order, and unity in society. On August 7, 2024, after the Isha prayer at Tamirul Millat Women’s Kamil Madrasa Mosque, an emergency meeting was held at the Tasmia Garden office room regarding the overall unrest and emerging situation of the area. Present at the meeting were myself, Md. Motashim Billah, Md. Abu Jafar, and Md. Jasim Uddin Sikder.
Immediately, Md. Abu Jafar was given the responsibility of opening a WhatsApp group to bring the residents of New Town onto the same platform and create a united public opinion. According to the decision of the meeting, on August 8, 2024, Md. Abu Jafar created a WhatsApp group named New Town Society. People in the group began to raise their area- and road-based problems, and through discussions and reviews, effective solutions were reached.
Gradually, the scope and extent of work began to expand. In order to establish social equality and justice, many local arbitration meetings had to be held. After the mass uprising of students and people, there was almost no effective presence of law enforcement agencies in the country for about three days. As a result, incidents of land grabbing, attacks out of personal grudges, assaults on dissenters, and riots and clashes due to family and personal hostilities increased in various areas. New Town was not spared from this situation. In this residential area, the lives of peaceful ordinary people became unsafe, restless, and uncertain.
Sociologists say, “When law and order collapses, the void in society is quickly filled with chaos and violence.” The same happened in New Town—due to the absence of the state’s security shield, local conflicts took on a violent shape. In such a situation, there was a need for local unity and organized non-violent action. At one stage of discussion, we all realized that in this restless situation, there was a need for a permanent social organization to keep the residents peaceful and united. In that very meeting, it was decided in principle to establish an organization, and its name would be “New Town Society.”
Regarding the naming: At the time of naming, everyone agreed that the organization would not be a temporary initiative, but rather would play a long-term role in the social, cultural, and developmental activities of New Town. Therefore, keeping in mind the identity and unity of the residents, it was named “New Town Society.” The name of a social organization usually becomes a symbol of identity. It carries the reflection of geographical, social, and mental unity.
The initial objectives brought forward at the time of establishing New Town Society were: to provide mutual cooperation in maintaining law and order, to take joint initiatives to prevent land grabbing and anarchic activities, to establish reconciliation among people of different opinions, to ensure peace and development of the area, and to unite citizens in solving social problems. Considering the overall needs of the general public, on August 19, 2024, after the Asr prayer at New Town Central Jame Mosque, a convening committee was formed to conduct various social activities of the society. Mr. Nesar Uddin Ahmad was made president, and Md. Abu Jafar was made member secretary, with a 31-member convening committee formed to manage the society’s day-to-day affairs.
When a society suddenly faces political instability, the need for “community-based institutions” or local organizations increases. Research shows that social organizations organize people during crises and create social capital. New Town Society has played that historic role. It is not just an organization but a symbol of unity against the breakdown of society. The history of the establishment of New Town Society is a document of an important social initiative. It reminds us that when the state apparatus fails, local people can restore peace, order, and stability through their unity and awareness. Established in August 2024, this society today is not only an organization for the people of New Town but also a symbol of solidarity, cooperation, and social security. The membership of New Town Society has now risen to 4,000. Its necessity and scope among the general public are increasing day by day. For the next three years, the elected central executive council must work with transparency, sincerity, and accountability, rising above all divisions of party, ideology, path, religion, caste, and politics, solely for the interest of people from all walks of life.
Author: The Executive Director of a Nongovernment Research & Development Organization, Senior Journalist, and Human Rights Activist.
