Umama Fatema, former spokesperson for the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), has officially announced her departure from the platform that once spearheaded the landmark student uprising of July 2023.
In a lengthy and emotional statement posted on her verified Facebook page early Friday morning, Umama cited internal betrayal, political manipulation, and personal disillusionment as key reasons behind her decision to step down.
“I joined the platform to uphold the spirit of the July uprising,” she wrote. “But what I encountered was far from what was promised. Many of us, who joined with hope, were ultimately deceived.”
According to Umama, she was assured autonomy before taking on the role of spokesperson. However, soon after joining, she came to realize that terms like "reform," "martyrs," and even "July" had become hollow slogans, used more for optics than genuine change.
She further revealed that both online and offline pressure was exerted on her to disengage from the platform. “I treated it as a challenge and tried to keep the platform alive with good intentions. But eventually, I was pushed aside,” she said.
A significant portion of her statement expressed frustration over the formation of the National Citizen Party (NCP), which she believes compromised the platform’s independence. “After the NCP was formed, I chose to continue working with SAD to complete the unfinished work of July. But it became clear that real independence was not welcome — that would threaten certain political ambitions.”
Umama also accused some within the leadership of using junior members to orchestrate smear campaigns against her. “They present themselves as idealists, but their behavior behind closed doors is exploitative,” she alleged. “Once your usefulness is over, you’re discarded like tissue paper.”
Despite the presence of sincere members within local committees, she claimed they too were sidelined by opportunistic leadership. She disclosed that she had effectively distanced herself from SAD since April–May of last year, though she had not made a formal announcement until now.
She also criticized the manner in which the platform’s central council election was conducted on June 25. While she had initially decided not to vote, she eventually cast her vote minutes before the deadline, hoping for a positive outcome. But the results — including the appointment of someone who hadn’t even participated in the election — left her deeply disillusioned.
“It`s the same old story — favoritism, manipulation, and a controlled voter base dominated by a single political party,” she wrote.
The new central committee elected includes Rashidul Islam (Rifat Rashid) as president, Md Inamul Hasan as general secretary, Muinul Islam as organising secretary, and Sinthia Jahin Ayesha as the new spokesperson.
Expressing concern about the platform’s future, Umama wrote, “From within, I genuinely hoped something good would emerge. But with the way it has been twisted and corrupted, I see a dark future for this platform.”
She concluded her post with a message to young members: “Many of you are well-meaning. My advice is to focus on your education and your own work. I’m not breaking down — I’m regrouping.”
