The student leaders who played a pivotal role in toppling former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have rejected calls from Bangladesh’s two major political parties for immediate elections. Instead, they are focusing on forming a new political party to ensure the continuation of the reforms they initiated, according to interviews with key protest leaders.
Their objective is to prevent a repeat of the last 15 years, during which Hasina ruled the 170 million-strong nation with an authoritarian grip, as reported by Reuters. This movement, which began in June with small student-led protests against a law reserving government jobs for certain groups, quickly gained momentum and led to the overthrow of Hasina’s government amid widespread outrage over the brutal crackdown on anti-quota protesters. The violence resulted in over 600 deaths, marking the bloodiest period in Bangladesh since its independence in 1971.
According to a preliminary report from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, around 650 people were killed during the student movement between July 16 and August 11. The movement, dubbed a Gen Z revolution, was driven by the frustrations of young Bangladeshis over stagnant job growth, corruption, and declining civil liberties.
Currently, an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, which includes two student leaders in key roles, is governing the country. For most of the past 30 years, Bangladesh has been ruled by either Hasina’s Awami League or the BNP, led by her rival Khaleda Zia.
Mahfuj Alam, a 26-year-old law student and chairman of a committee coordinating between the government and social groups, revealed that the student leaders are seriously considering forming a new political party to break the political duopoly. A final decision is expected within a month after wide consultations with citizens to determine the party’s platform.
Tahmid Chowdhury, another key student coordinator, indicated a “high chance” of establishing a political party based on principles of secularism and free speech. Although specific policy plans have not yet been detailed, the student leaders advocate for broad institutional reforms, including electoral commission changes, to prevent a return to authoritarian rule.
Nahid Islam, a leading protest organizer now in Yunus’ cabinet, emphasized that the movement’s essence is to build a new Bangladesh where no autocrat can return. To achieve this, structural reforms are essential, and these will require time.
Despite pressure from the Awami League and BNP for early elections, the interim government is not yielding to their demands. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain acknowledged that the students had not yet discussed their political plans with technocrats but noted that the political landscape is bound to change as the younger generation steps into politics.
Constitutional expert Shahdeen Malik pointed out that the interim government’s powers are unclear due to the lack of constitutional provisions for it. The situation remains unprecedented and uncharted both legally and politically.
Reuters interviewed over 30 individuals, including key student leaders, opposition politicians, and army officers, to assess the remaining divisions and the prospects for the new government. Sajeeb Wazed, Hasina’s son, and adviser, indicated that either the Awami League or BNP would eventually return to power, asserting that stability in Bangladesh would be impossible without their involvement.
The violent week of protests expanded from public campuses to private institutions, with students from East-West University and even parents joining in. At least two police officers were suspended in early August after a video of a student’s killing went viral, and the student leaders plan to prosecute police and paramilitary personnel accused of abuse.
On July 21, the Supreme Court ruled that 93% of state jobs should be open to competition, meeting a key demand of the students. Despite this, the demonstrations continued to grow, leading to Hasina’s indefinite curfew declaration on August 4. However, the army refused to enforce the lockdown, leading to Hasina fleeing to India as crowds marched to her official residence the next day.
