Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha

Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha
Formation1978
TypePolitical, cultural
Headquarters80, Naya Paltan, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Region served
Bangladesh
Parent organization
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Bengali: জাতীয়তাবাদী সামাজিক সাংস্কৃতিক সংস্থা, lit.'Nationalist Social and Cultural Organization'), abbreviated as JASAS,[1][2] is the cultural wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[3][4]

History

Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha was established in 1978.[5]

In February 2015, Bangladesh Police arrested singer and JASAS leader, Baby Naznin, near the political office of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.[6] The joint general secretary of Zakiganj Upazila unit of JASAS, Sultan Ahmed, went missing in January 2018. A police missing case was filed with the Zakiganj Police Station.[7]

In 2018, Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha carried out a signature collection drive to demand the release of former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Khaleda Zia.[8] In April 2018, a conversation was leaked between the vice chairperson of the party and son of Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and Mamun Ahmed, Professor of the Biochemistry department of the University of Dhaka and leader of JASAS. In the audio, Tarique Rahman, who is in exile in the United Kingdom, was instructing Mamun to encourage pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party academics to join and support the 2018 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[9]

On 23 November 2019, Bangladesh Nationalist Party approved a 184-member committee of the organisation.[10] On 21 February 2021 at a program organised by JASAS, Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called Bangladesh a one-party state in disguise.[11]

Violence

On 13 April 2025, a group of JASAS activists under the banner of Sammilito Pohela Boishakh Udjapan Parishad protested in front of District Commissioner's office of Chittagong demanding the exclusion of some organizations from the DC Hill Bengali New Year festival, alleging that they were affiliated with the Awami League. As the DC did not take any measures, group of protesters, attacked and destroyed the stage and chairs organized for the event. The protesters threatened not to hold any new year festival until the execution of Sheikh Hasina.[12]

See also

References