Dhaka, Bangladesh – Bangladeshi students who spearheaded last year’s mass protests to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have launched a new political party ahead of parliamentary elections expected within the next year.
On Friday, leaders of the newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) addressed a rally on Manik Mia Avenue, near the parliament building in the capital. They pledged to pursue a politics of national unity over division, transparency and good governance over corruption, and an independent foreign policy to build a "second republic."
Lima Akter, sister of Ismail Hossain Rabby — who was killed by security forces during the July uprising against Hasina — announced that 27-year-old Nahid Islam would serve as the new party’s convenor. Islam, a prominent figure in the July uprising and acting head of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, resigned from the interim government on Tuesday to lead the NCP, which will initially have a central committee of about 150 members.
The interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus since Hasina’s exit in August, has stated that general elections will be held by December or early 2026.
A New Hope for Bangladesh
At the launch event, Shafiqul Islam, a nursing student from Patuakhali, expressed hope in the new party, stating, "We had no freedom of expression under the previous regime. We don’t want violence in educational institutions in the name of politics. Corruption remains a major obstacle to our progress, and we want a permanent end to it. This new party is our hope."
Earlier in the week, former leaders of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), the student movement that toppled Hasina’s Awami League government, formed a new student organization, the Democratic Student Council (DSC). At a press conference, DSC convener Abu Baker Mazumdar emphasized that the group would remain independent and unaffiliated with any political party, including the NCP. However, analysts view the DSC as an allied organization sharing the spirit of the July movement.
A New Chapter in Bangladesh’s Politics
Political analysts believe the youth-led NCP aims to transform Bangladesh’s political landscape, long dominated by two family dynasties: those of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Hasina’s family descends from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and founder of the Awami League. Zia’s family is linked to her late husband, Ziaur Rahman, a former military ruler and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Hasina, 76, sought exile in India after the student-led movement forced her out of power. Her 15-year rule was marked by economic growth but also allegations of corruption, human rights violations, and authoritarianism. The BNP, led by the ailing 79-year-old Zia and her son Tarique Rahman, hopes to dominate the upcoming elections. Zia was recently flown to London for medical treatment.
Breaking with the Past
Leaders of the NCP argue that Bangladesh’s politics has long been defined by divisive faultlines, such as secularism versus Islamic law or allegiances toward Pakistan or Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war. They contend that these divisions have marginalized pressing issues like livelihoods, health, and education.
Akhtar Hossen, a member secretary of the NCP, stated, "In the Bangladesh of tomorrow, we do not want these divisions to persist. We want to secure equal rights for everyone, whether a university professor or a daily wage laborer, without any discrimination."
The NCP’s founders said they gathered input from nearly 200,000 people on the kind of politics they should pursue. The responses highlighted a strong desire to combat corruption, reform education, and ensure universal healthcare.
Inspiration from Abroad
NCP leaders cited inspiration from political movements abroad, including India’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan, and Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). However, NCP leaders stressed that they aim to create a distinct political model tailored to Bangladesh’s unique context.
Challenges Ahead
Analysts warn that the NCP faces significant challenges
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