A group of students who led the protests that ousted Bangladesh’s autocratic leader, Sheikh Hasina, last year are launching a new political party called the National Citizens Party. The party, which aims to pursue a centrist political ideology, will target young people who participated in the 2024 protests but have since returned to their normal lives.
The party’s founder, Nahid Islam, a 27-year-old university graduate, was a key figure in the call for Ms. Hasina’s resignation and joined the interim government after her ouster. However, he recently resigned from his role to set up the new party.
The formation of the National Citizens Party comes as Bangladesh struggles with chaos and lawlessness following Ms. Hasina’s departure. The country has seen revenge attacks on political opponents, robbery, and intimidation of religious minorities. The police force has also been in disarray, with dozens of officers killed by angry mobs.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, recently warned that the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh are at risk if differences between politicians and citizens are not put aside. The student-led party hopes to provide a platform for student voices to be heard as Bangladesh builds its democracy.
However, some rival parties have expressed concerns about the new party’s legitimacy, citing its potential unfair advantage since its leader was part of the interim government. Despite these criticisms, the National Citizens Party aims to promote a centrist approach to politics and engage with young people who are eager for change.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/asia/bangladesh-politics-party.html