Bangladeshi Students Who Ousted Ex-PM Hasina To Launch Political Party

Bangladeshi students, who played a pivotal role in the protests that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are preparing to launch a new political party this week, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group led the movement, which initially began as a protest against public sector job quotas but soon evolved into a nationwide uprising. The unrest peaked in early August last year, forcing Hasina to flee to India amid mounting pressure.

Sources indicate that the student group is finalising plans for the party’s launch, with an event expected to take place on Wednesday. Nahid Islam, a student leader and adviser to the interim government, is anticipated to take the helm as the party’s convener. Islam has been a key advocate for student interests within the interim administration, which has been led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus since Hasina’s departure. To focus on his new political role, Islam is expected to resign from his current position in the government.

Neither Islam nor Yunus’ office has responded to requests for comment regarding the development. However, Yunus has previously stated that elections could be held by the end of 2025. Political analysts suggest that a youth-led party could play a transformative role in reshaping Bangladesh’s political landscape. Yunus has also clarified that he has no intention of running in the elections.

Bangladesh has been grappling with continued political unrest since Hasina’s exit, following weeks of protests that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people. The UN Human Rights Commission recently reported that officials from Hasina’s former government and security forces committed serious human rights violations against protesters during the uprising. However, Hasina and her party have denied any wrongdoing.

The formation of a new political party led by student activists signals a potential shift in Bangladesh’s political dynamics, as the nation prepares for its next electoral chapter.

Melissa Enoch

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