The case of Sadman Mujtaba Rafid, a student of Dhaka University, was not only opposing the wishes of his parents but also disregarding them, even after being warned by the police not to take part in the mass protests, which later resulted in the overthrow of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. Similar to most of the young protestors, he felt that the movement was essential in defending the democracy and that what he felt as rooted dynastic politics came to an end.
But with the upcoming February 12 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh the first since the political upheaval, Rafid confesses that he had some earlier optimism that faded. The 25-year-old said that he imagined a country where all people despite gender, race or religion would get equal opportunities. There is so much we wished to get out of the reforms of deep policy and meaningful changes but what we see today is not what we thought it could be.
The disappointment that Rafid experiences reflects the experience of the increasing frustrations of the Gen-Z generation in Bangladesh. In 2024, tens of thousands of youths went to the streets, being fed up with the decades of political oppression, restricted job opportunities and economic stagnation under the long-term rule of Hasina. The uprisings were characterized by the desire to bring about a New Bangladesh a new Bangladesh that is based on transparency, inclusiveness and opportunity.
Although the impending elections will bring about a government devoid of Hasina since 2008, most youthful voters are not feeling the change. Critics express the view that there have been no fundamental structural reforms and that it is not much different in terms of politics. There has been no effective new political force to direct the protest generation dreams.
Consequently, the political struggle is likely to be marked by old competitors namely the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, and many young Bangladeshis are at a cross on whether they might actually see the change that they had once dreamed of.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News