Gen Z toppled an autocrat - but old guard tipped to win Bangladesh vote

In 2024, student-led protests in Bangladesh, triggered by civil service job quotas and police violence, toppled the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The uprising, centered in Dhaka, gained momentum after a student was killed by police, galvanizing widespread opposition to what protestors saw as autocratic rule. An interim government was formed with student leaders holding key posts, aiming to establish a more equitable society. However, as elections approach, the student-led National Citizen Party is fractured, and established parties are poised to fill the void left by the banned Awami League. Despite initial hopes, many involved in the protests feel the interim government has failed to deliver on its promises of peace, equality, and justice. The future political landscape of Bangladesh remains uncertain.

In Bangladesh, the Awami League, the party that ruled for 15 years under Sheikh Hasina, has been banned from participating in the upcoming February 12th parliamentary election. This follows a student-led uprising in 2024 that ousted Hasina and forced her into exile. Hasina was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal for her role in the deaths of over 1,400 people during protests. The Awami League's political activities are prohibited, leaving its supporters uncertain about the future. The election marks the first since Hasina's removal, and voters, including long-time Awami League supporters, express apathy and fear potential repercussions regardless of whether they vote or not.