Students who initiated protests in Bangladesh, leading to the removal of its authoritarian leader, Sheikh Hasina, are now pursuing their vision for the country through a political party. At a rally in Dhaka on Friday, former student leaders announced the establishment of the National Citizens Party, aiming for a “centrist” political ideology. The party, open to all, will primarily target students who joined the 2024 protests, many of whom have since resumed their daily lives.

Nahid Islam, a 27-year-old university graduate who played a key role in demanding Ms. Hasina’s resignation, will lead the new party. She had previously joined the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which is focused on restoring order and paving the way for democratic elections.

Mr. Islam recently resigned from the government to focus on building a new political force with the students and the people. The hope is that this political route will allow student voices to be heard as Bangladesh builds a robust democracy. Students Against Discrimination, an umbrella group representing most of the protesters, will continue its activities as a nonpolitical entity.

However, the formation of a student political party has faced criticism. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now the largest political group after the decline of Ms. Hasina’s Awami League, expressed concerns about the new party’s unfair advantage, as its leader had been part of the interim government. Despite this, the BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir welcomed the formation of the student party.

Two other student leaders who joined the interim government, Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud, have decided not to join the National Citizens Party. They cited their role in overseeing the democratic transition as a reason for not affiliating with any political party.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/asia/bangladesh-politics-party.html