Md Sabbir Hossen: Through years of hard work, political activism, sacrifice and dedication, Saif Mahmud Jewel, a son of Barishal, has risen from grassroots politics to become a prominent figure in the national political arena.

Jewel built his political career through the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). During the Awami League government, he was active in various political movements from the grassroots to the central level. He served as organising secretary of the central Chhatra Dal and later became its general secretary.

Political observers say BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s assessment of Jewel’s political potential and organisational abilities played a significant role in his rise from a middle-class rural family to a position of prominence in national politics.

Jewel’s political journey began in his own village. In 2003, while studying at the higher secondary level, he joined Chhatra Dal politics. That year, he was elected president of Ward No. 3 Chhatra Dal of Dhamura Union in Wazirpur, Barishal. He gradually advanced through the organisation, overcoming a series of political challenges along the way.

Jewel is the youngest son of the late Shahjahan Hawladar, a rural medical practitioner from Dhamura village in Sholok Union of Wazirpur Upazila, Barishal.

He completed his primary education at Dhamura Government Primary School and secondary education at Dhamura Secondary School. Although he was initially admitted to Dhaka College at the higher secondary level, he later appeared for the HSC examination from Dhamura Degree College.

He passed the SSC examination from the Science group in 2002 with a GPA of 4.38 and the HSC examination from the Humanities group in 2004 with a GPA of 4.30.

He was subsequently admitted to the Department of Bangla at the University of Dhaka in the 2005–06 academic session. Alongside completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he also obtained another master’s degree through an evening programme at the university’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research.

Jewel’s mother, Momtaz Begum, 65, currently lives at the family’s village home.

He has three elder brothers and one sister. His eldest brother, Md Moniruzzaman Selim, is a medicine trader at Dhamura Bazar. His second brother, Md Sohan Hossain Dalim, is involved in business and serves as joint general secretary of the Barishal South District Jubo Dal. His third brother, Md Durjoy Hawladar Sohel, is a government employee. Their sister, Monalisa Tania, lives with her husband in Dumki, Patuakhali.

According to Moniruzzaman Selim, Jewel’s elder brother, Jewel first became president of Ward No. 3 Chhatra Dal of Dhamura Union while studying at Dhamura Degree College. He later became general secretary of the Dhamura College unit of Chhatra Dal.

After enrolling at the University of Dhaka, Jewel continued his political activities despite the absence of regular committees in the university and hall units of Chhatra Dal for years. In 2016, he was elected joint general secretary of the Dhaka University Chhatra Dal unit.

He was appointed organising secretary of the central Chhatra Dal committee in 2019. On April 17, 2022, BNP appointed Kazi Rawnakul Islam Shrabon as president and Saif Mahmud Jewel as general secretary of the organisation’s central committee.

The Shrabon-Jewel leadership subsequently became prominent in BNP’s student-level political activities. BNP leaders and activists credit the leadership with mobilising students during various political movements and street programmes. Jewel also served as a spokesperson for the Anti-Fascist Student Unity.

His political career, however, has not been without setbacks. He was arrested in 2012 and spent four consecutive months in prison. Several cases against him remain pending, according to people close to him. At different times, he has also faced political violence, arrests, attacks and an incident in which he was reportedly shot.

Despite these challenges, Jewel continued his political activities and remained active in BNP politics.

Reflecting on his political journey, Jewel said, “Inspired by the ideals of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, I have worked as an insignificant worker of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. I have devoted the most valuable years of my life to the party. The uncompromising leader of democracy, the late Begum Khaleda Zia, and the pride of the younger generation, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, have recognised and valued me. I believe that he will continue to value me in the future in the interests of the country and the party.”

Meanwhile, with the tenure of the central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal having expired, preparations are reportedly under way to form a new committee, according to party sources.

Against this backdrop, speculation has grown among grassroots leaders and activists that former Chhatra Dal general secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel could be given an important position in the central leadership of the Swechchhasebak Dal.

Jewel’s possible elevation would mark another step in a political journey that began in a rural ward-level student organisation in Barishal and gradually took him to the centre of BNP’s student politics and the wider national political arena.