Bangladeshi student leaders who led protests against Sheikh Hasina form new political party
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A group of Bangladeshi student leaders who played a pivotal role in toppling former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government last year has launched a new political party, intensifying the country’s already heated political landscape.
The newly formed Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (Democratic Student Council) includes prominent organisers from the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group, which led the uprising that forced Hasina to flee to India in August.
Bangladesh’s political environment is highly divided, and the formation of this new student-led party has not been without controversy. Some students have accused the new group of undermining the revolution, leading to internal disputes over representation. The unveiling of the party’s name on Wednesday even resulted in physical clashes among members.
Adding to the political fragmentation, other former SAD leaders - including those who joined the interim government after Hasina’s departure - are expected to announce another separate political party on Friday.
The Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad has also welcomed students who were previously aligned with the youth wing of Hasina’s Awami League, though its leaders insist that they have carefully vetted their members.
"While accommodating students from the Awami League, we ensured that none of them were involved in mass murder or torture during the revolution," said Zahid Ahsan, a leader of the newly formed group.
He emphasised that their main goal is to protect student rights and uphold the ideals of the mass movement that led to the fall of Hasina’s government.
Sheikh Hasina, now in self-imposed exile in India, is facing multiple charges, including accusations of crimes against humanity. Despite an arrest warrant issued by Dhaka, she has refused to return to face trial.
Meanwhile, political tensions remain high, with more than 150 people injured in clashes between rival student groups this month.
The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus, has announced that general elections will take place in late 2025 or early 2026. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - Hasina’s longtime political rival - is widely expected to dominate the upcoming polls.