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Bangladesh's political shift after Hasina's ousting
Bangladesh has witnessed a dramatic political reversal as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), once sidelined, secured a decisive return to power following the abrupt end of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule. The election, held after widespread protests forced Hasina from office in 2024, marks a rare competitive poll in the country's history, though its credibility has been questioned due to the exclusion of Hasina's Awami League.
A new leader for the BNP
For the first time, Tarique Rahman, son of the BNP's late leader Khaleda Zia, formally led the party in an election. Rahman, 60, returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, just days before his mother's death. While he has occasionally acted as the party's de facto leader during his mother's imprisonment and illness, his leadership remains largely untested.
"That he doesn't have prior experience probably works for him, because people are willing to give change a chance. They want to think that new, good things are actually possible. So there is a lot of hope."
Navine Murshid, political scientist
Promises of democracy and reform
The BNP has pledged to restore democratic institutions and repair the economy, both of which, it claims, were eroded under Hasina's rule. Senior BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that reviving these institutions is the party's top priority, though Bangladesh's history of broken political promises looms large.
Young protesters, who played a key role in Hasina's ousting during the 2024 "July uprising," remain skeptical. "We don't want to fight again," said Tazin Ahmed, 19, who participated in the protests. "The stepping down of the previous prime minister was not the victory. When our country runs smoothly without any corruption, and the economy becomes good, that will be our main victory."
Challenges for the new government
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, has struggled with violence and instability since taking power. The new administration faces urgent tasks: restoring law and order, reviving the economy, lowering food prices, and creating jobs for Bangladesh's large youth population.
Sociologist Samina Luthfa noted that inexperience plagues all parties, including the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which won a significant number of seats for the first time. Its alliance partner, the National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by student leaders of the 2024 uprising, also secured six seats in its electoral debut.
"We are going to see leaders in the parliament who have never been to the parliament before. NCP youngsters have a lot to learn. The others are seasoned politicians but they do not have the experience of running the country. So it's going to be an uphill task."
Samina Luthfa, sociologist
Jamaat-e-Islami's rise and concerns
Jamaat-e-Islami, banned twice in Bangladesh's history, campaigned on a secular, development-focused manifesto, avoiding mention of Islamic law. However, its website states that "Jamaat performs in the political arena because Islamic law can't be implemented without political force," raising questions about its long-term intentions.
Murshid acknowledged the party's grassroots strength but warned of its anti-democratic and patriarchal tendencies. "Jamaat is a very organised political party," she said. "For the last several decades, they have worked relentlessly at the grassroots level. That has to be recognised, but the problematic part is that they are inherently anti-democratic, misogynistic, and patriarchal."
Women's representation and the road ahead
Women's participation in the election remained dismally low, with just over 4% of candidates being female. Luthfa criticized all parties for failing to translate the activism of women during the July uprising into formal political representation.
"Parliament members now need to make haste so that they can bring in skilled, honest, and deserving candidates to the seats reserved for women in parliament," she said. Out of 350 parliamentary seats, 50 are reserved for women, nominated by parties based on their electoral performance.
Awami League's future uncertain
The exclusion of Hasina's Awami League from the election has cast doubt on its legitimacy. BNP leader Chowdhury suggested that the party's return to the political fold would take time, given its tarnished reputation. "When you are accused of killing your own people, of atrocities, persecution, then the people will decide where they fit in in the future of Bangladesh politics," he said.
From exile in India, Hasina dismissed the election as a "farce" and demanded a fresh poll that includes her party. While public anger against the Awami League remains high, Bangladesh's history of political volatility suggests it would be premature to dismiss the party entirely.
