Sheikh Hasina Ousted: Students Form New Party
The NCP's formation comes amid growing political turmoil in the country ahead of expected elections, which are likely to see the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) taking a leading role, and the caretaker government has confirmed that general elections will be held in late 2025 or early 2026.
Bangladeshi students who led protests that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have formed a new political party, aiming to establish a government that represents the people and continues the push for reform.
The new party, known as the National Citizens Party (NCP), was formed by former organizers of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group and includes students from the Awami League's youth wing. The party's convenor, Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old student leader, was a key figure in the protests that forced Hasina from power and has resigned from the interim government to lead the new party.
The NCP has a central committee of about 150 members and has gathered opinions from nearly 200,000 people on the kind of politics they should pursue and which issues needed urgent attention. The responses revealed a strong desire to root out corruption, reform education, and ensure universal access to healthcare. The party's founders say they are inspired by similar parties abroad, such as India's Aam Aadmi Party and Pakistan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and aim to create a "second republic" in Bangladesh.
The formation of the NCP has been seen as an opportunity for the youth to play a major role in shaping Bangladesh's politics, which has been dominated by two family-run parties for decades. However, the party's leaders will need to navigate the complexities of Bangladeshi politics and address the concerns of various stakeholders, including the existing parties and Islamist groups, to succeed.
