Bangladesh Students Plan New Political Party

In Bangladesh, student demonstrators who were instrumental in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are rejecting calls from major political parties for immediate elections and are instead considering forming their own political party. This movement, characterized as a 'Gen Z revolution', arose in response to economic mismanagement and civil rights violations, leading to widespread protests that resulted in over 300 deaths during a government crackdown. The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and including student leaders, aims to implement reforms to prevent a return to authoritarian rule. Key student figures, such as Mahfuj Alam and Tahmid Chowdhury, are deliberating on the party's formation, with a focus on secularism and free speech while engaging ordinary citizens for input on their agenda. The goal is to challenge the longstanding political dominance of Hasina's Awami League and Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party. A decision on the new party is expected within a month, as they strive to ensure the reforms they fought for are sustained.