After the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh witnessed massive protests and violence, what's next in the course of the student protesters. After successfully pushing for major reforms, it seems the students are now dreaming big forming a new political party to keep their revolutionary spirit alive.
Reportedly, the student protesters rejected calls from two main political parties for quick elections and are considering creating their own party.
By a new party, the students hope to avoid a repeat of the last 15 years, where Hasina ruled with an iron fist.
Initially, the protests began in the country as a quota reform movement. The controversial quota system reserved up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1972.
Later, the protests escalated in the country with masses joining and demanding the resignation of Hasina. At least 300 people were killed in the massive protests that erupted in June.
The 'Second Revolution', hailed as a Gen Z revolution, is the result of years of unemployment, shrinking civil liberties and allegations of kleptocracy.
There are two student leaders in senior positions in the new interim government formed in the country.
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For the last three decades, Bangladesh has been governed either by Hasina's Awami League or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of her rival Khaleda Zia. Experts point out that youngsters are rooting for a change in the political scenario.
The decision to form the party will be made in about a month, said reports. However, some of the student activists ridiculed the reports and said that they would not be forming new political organisations.
"The spirit of the movement was to create a new Bangladesh, one where no fascist or autocrat can return," Nahid Islam, 26, a key protest organiser who sits in Yunus' cabinet was quoted by Reuters.
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Will conduct fair and free elections: Yunus
Meanwhile, the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday vowed to conduct "free, fair and participatory elections" in Bangladesh.
Yunus was addressing the third Voice of Global South Summit, which was hosted by India in a virtual format.
"All are aware that Bangladesh witnessed a Second Revolution on August 5, through a mass uprising spearheaded by students and joined by masses...Our government is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy," said Yunus.
He also added that the caretaker government aims to carry out vital reforms in the electoral system, judiciary, media and economy.
