A new political party named 'Janata Party Bangladesh' has been launched with road safety campaigner Ilias Kanchan as its Chairman. The party was officially introduced on Friday (April 25) at a programme held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.Journalist and former National Press Club president Shawkat Mahmud has been made the Secretary General of the party, while former State Minister for Education Golam Sarwar Milon has been named the Executive Chairman.Chairman Ilias Kanchan formally announced the party, and Shawkat Mahmud read out the party manifesto.In his speech, Mahmud said the country fought the 1971 Liberation War with the dream of equality and dignity for all citizens, but that dream remains unfulfilled.He alleged that the Awami League failed to uphold that vision by including socialism and secularism in state policy, and said that India's Brahmanism created a clash between religion and politics in independent Bangladesh, giving rise to fascism. He further said that in response to that, a new vision has emerged in 2024. The Janata Party Bangladesh has begun its journey with the goal of fulfilling that vision, based on Bangladeshi nationalism and religious values.