Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has announced his departure from the organisation’s leadership, saying he is leaving his position but not the student wing.

Nasir made the announcement in a post on social media on Friday. JCD President Rakibul Islam also posted a farewell message the previous night.

“Today, I am leaving the responsibility, not Chhatra Dal. One can leave a position, but not an ideology, love or fellow comrades,” Nasir wrote.

He expressed confidence that the organisation would become stronger and more dynamic under its incoming leadership. He also assured the new leaders that he would stand by them whenever they called on him.

In his post, Nasir reflected on his political journey and his tenure as general secretary, while thanking BNP leaders for their support and guidance.

He said his political career began during the difficult period surrounding the 1/11 political crisis. After 17 years of uncertainty, he said, the country now stands at a different juncture, although the journey had involved struggle, sacrifice, repression, enforced disappearances and killings.

Nasir said Friday marked his final day as general secretary of Chhatra Dal, bringing an end to what he described as a long, difficult, eventful and proud chapter.

Recalling his tenure, he said he assumed the position on 1 March 2024, and subsequently faced a challenging political environment. He described the July Uprising of 2024 as the most difficult period, when keeping activists active on the streets, encouraging them and involving all levels of the organisation in the movement became major challenges.

He thanked Chhatra Dal leaders of five universities, five colleges and four metropolitan areas in Dhaka for their role during the movement, saying many activists risked their lives by remaining on the streets.

He described the period under the interim government as another difficult phase, particularly because of what he called the “mob culture.” Keeping the organisation active amid propaganda, misinformation, confusion and political pressure was a major challenge, he said.

Nasir also acknowledged shortcomings during his tenure. He said a few committees could not be completed despite efforts, particularly the expanded portion of the central committee, which he described as a source of regret.

He also termed Chhatra Dal’s failure to achieve its expected results in student union elections a setback. As an organiser, he said, the outcome had led him to reflect on where the organisation had fallen short and what could have been done better.

“Defeat in politics also teaches lessons,” he said, expressing hope that Chhatra Dal would learn from the experience and emerge as a stronger, more acceptable and better-organised student organisation.

At the end of his message, Nasir apologised to fellow activists if he had caused them any pain.

“I am leaving a responsibility today, but not relationships, struggle or ideology. We will meet again on another platform, in another responsibility, at another time,” he wrote.