The students who spearheaded Bangladesh’s largest anti-government protests in recent years, and succeeded in ousting former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, have now taken their fight from the streets to the political arena, launching a new party to challenge the existing ones in the country.
The move has already drawn sharp criticism from Awami League and its leaders in political exile. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina’s son, called them “terrorists”, comparing them to General Zia who created the Bangladesh National Party. “The terrorist students have launched their own political party. They are doing everything true fascist dictators have done in the past. Seize power through violence, kill the opposition, then launch a political party and rig an election to stay in power. General Zia did this and created the BNP, General Ershad did this and created the Jatiya Party. Now these terrorists have created the NCP. Next step is to have a rigged election,” Joy said in his statement.
The protests, which erupted over allegations of vote rigging, police brutality, and authoritarianism under Sheikh Hasina’s government, saw thousands of students rally across the country. During their movement, which later turned violent, they argued that Hasina’s Awami League had become synonymous with suppression and that Bangladesh needs an alternative voice representing the youth.
“They have given the title of Imam to Nahid. We have been saying all along that they are fundamentalists. This further proves it. These terrorists openly called for violence against the police and Awami League and killed hundreds. They ordered the bulldozing of Bangabandhu’s house, where our Independence was declared and Bangabandhu and his entire family were murdered. They carried out mob violence against anyone who disagreed with them,” he added.
Joy’s statement signals that the senior leaders of Awami League, even from hiding, are yet to cede the political space in Bangladesh. By labelling them as extremists and ‘fascists’, Awami League is attempting to delegitimise the movement and portray it as a threat to stability. Critics see this as a continuation of Hasina’s ways to bounce back.
“After demolishing the house of the Father of the Nation, they talk about the spirit of the Liberation War? After killing police and politicians, they talk about replacing vengeance? After attacking minorities, they talk about replacing division? This is a joke. If all of this is acceptable, then why blame the Awami League? Remember, just like past fascists, these terrorists are in power without any mandate. This is now a political government, one that the people of Bangladesh did not elect. It is a dictatorship and no dictator holds free and fair elections,” he added in his statement.
With the political landscape in Bangladesh being extremely polarised, the formation of this party sets the stage for another intense showdown between the old guard and a generation that refuses to be silenced.