Nasir Uddin Nasir, General Secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, recently traveled to China as part of a 22-member delegation. The group, which included leaders from eight political parties, visited China from February 24 to March 6 at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In an interview with The Mirror Asia, he shared his experiences and thoughts on various contemporary issues.

Q: How was the China visit?

A: Honestly, it was a big deal for me, both personally and politically. We traveled to four cities and three provinces, meeting key Chinese leaders and getting a firsthand look at their rapid progress. Their infrastructure, IT advancements, and agricultural innovations were really impressive. In just a few decades, China has positioned itself as a global powerhouse. What stood out the most was the discipline, punctuality, and patriotism of Chinese youth. In Bangladesh, people are patriotic, but following rules isn’t always a priority. There’s a lot we can learn from China’s development, and this trip will definitely help strengthen Bangladesh-China relations.

Q: How can this visit benefit the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal?

A: We picked up some valuable lessons—dedication, discipline, and professionalism. The way China has built its infrastructure and developed its skilled workforce is inspiring. We can take these ideas and apply them to our own strategies to make Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal more effective.

Q: China isn’t a democracy. How does this trip benefit you?

A: We went there to learn from their strengths, not to copy their system. China’s achievements in AI, discipline, honesty, and cleanliness are things we can admire. Their lack of democracy doesn’t impact our democratic values in Bangladesh. We focus on the positives, not their political structure.

Q: Do you think this visit will improve BNP-China relations?

A: BNP has had ties with China since the days of President Ziaur Rahman. During our visit, Chinese leaders emphasized people-to-people relationships rather than political alliances. If BNP comes back to power, this trip will definitely help build trust and deepen relations between the two countries.

Q: What’s the China corridor proposal all about?

A: It’s a major connectivity plan linking China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India. China is really interested in making it happen. We also discussed water-sharing issues regarding the Teesta River and pushed for an inter-country dialogue policy. China has been made aware of these concerns.

Q: There’s talk about Shibir spending a huge amount on iftar at Dhaka University. Where does all that money come from?

A: Shibir reportedly spends about Tk 3 lakh taka daily on iftar, which adds up to Tk 90 lakh over the month of Ramadan. The big question is—where is this money coming from? Students have the right to know, but whenever they ask, Shibir avoids answering and instead launches social media attacks on critics.

Q: What’s your take on the National Citizens' Party?

A: Honestly, it’s just another traditional party with no real vision. Their leadership is appointed, not elected, and they seem to rely on a handful of wealthy individuals, some of whom have questionable backgrounds. Their policies are outdated, and there’s nothing fresh or exciting about them.

Q: Why did you sing the patriotic song ‘Muktir Mondire Shopano Tole Koto Pran with Shibir’ leaders in China?

A: This has been blown out of proportion. We sang as representatives of Bangladesh, not as members of any particular party. The Chinese embassy made it clear that we were there as a national delegation. The song was actually led by BNP leader Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan during the trip. This visit wasn’t about Shibir or any single party—it was about representing Bangladesh on an international stage.