DHAKA, Bangladesh—A student-led movement that shook the foundations of Bangladesh’s political system and led to the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule is now taking its next step: the formation of a political party.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) will officially launch on Friday, in front of the country’s Parliament building in Dhaka, bringing together young activists, civil society leaders, and professionals who played a crucial role in last year’s protests.

For months, thousands of protesters, many of them students, defied bullets and tear gas to demand democratic change. Now, they say their fight has evolved.

“We have faced bullets, but now we are ready for the ballot. This time, there will be no more bloodshed. We will proceed democratically,” said Nasiruddin Patwary, a leading figure in the movement and now a top organizer of the NCP.

The party, spearheaded by Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JANAC)—translated as the National Citizens’ Committee—is rooted in the same ideals that fueled last year’s protests: democracy, justice, and institutional reform.

“Our generation has been told for too long that we must accept corruption, political dynasties, and rigged elections as the norm. We reject that. We believe in a different Bangladesh,” Patwary told Tvista.

The NCP’s emergence marks a significant moment in Bangladeshi politics, dominated for decades by the two ruling dynasties—the Awami League under Hasina and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Khaleda Zia.

Now, for the first time in the country’s history, a major political movement is taking shape outside the Mujib-Zia legacy.

A Party Born from Resistance

The party’s founding principles—transparency, accountability, and inclusion—are reflected in its slogan: ‘Responsibility, not luxury.’

“For 15 years, we have watched politicians enrich themselves while ordinary Bangladeshis suffer. That ends now,” said Akhtar Hossain, a SAD leader and one of the NCP’s newly appointed officials.

Ahead of the party’s launch, its members held internal votes on Thursday to finalize leadership positions, reinforcing their commitment to democratic values.

Among the confirmed leadership team:

• Convener: Nahid Islam (SAD leader, former adviser to the interim government)
• Member Secretary: Akhtar Hossain (SAD leader)
• Chief Coordinator: Nasiruddin Patwary (JANAC convener)
• Chief Organiser (Southern region): Hasnat Abdullah (SAD convener)
• Chief Organiser (Northern region): Sarjis Alam (JANAC chief organiser)
• Senior Joint Convener: Samanta Sharmeen (JANAC spokesperson)
• Office Secretary: Salehuddin Sifat (JANAC co-spokesperson)

“For too long, decisions about our future have been made behind closed doors. We are doing things differently. Every decision in the NCP will be made through debate, consensus, and voting,” Patwary said.

A Revolution That Ousted Hasina

The roots of the NCP can be traced back to July 2024, when mass protests erupted over Bangladesh’s discriminatory public sector job quota system. What began as a demand for reform quickly transformed into a national movement against Sheikh Hasina’s rule.

For years, her government had been accused of suppressing opposition, rigging elections, and using security forces to silence critics. The United Nations has accused Hasina’s administration of committing possible “crimes against humanity” in its efforts to cling to power.

On February 12, 2025, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding report detailed a systematic crackdown on protesters, including mass detentions, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.

Faced with mounting international pressure and domestic unrest, Hasina fled to India in August 2024, days before an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was installed.

Yunus has since indicated that general elections will likely be postponed until late 2025 or early 2026, as the country navigates a democratic transition.

“We do not intend to repeat the violence of the past,” Patwary said. “Our job is to ensure the transition remains democratic and that Bangladesh never falls into authoritarian rule again.”

The NCP’s Vision for Bangladesh

For the NCP, political change does not end with the removal of a regime; it begins with the reconstruction of the nation’s institutions. At the heart of its agenda is a commitment to dismantling the old order of political dynasties and replacing it with a government that represents ordinary citizens. The party’s leadership, composed of young activists, professionals, and former student movement leaders, believes that only structural reform can prevent the return of authoritarian rule.

One of their primary objectives is to empower the younger generation and women in leadership, ensuring that at least one-third of all party positions and future parliamentary candidates come from these groups. They argue that for too long, governance in Bangladesh has been the domain of aging politicians disconnected from the struggles of everyday citizens. The NCP envisions a country where fresh voices, untainted by past corruption, can shape policies that address real economic and social concerns.

Economic policy will be a major battleground. NCP leaders have vowed to shift the government’s focus away from foreign dependency and toward domestic growth. They criticize past administrations for prioritizing mega projects and external loans while ordinary Bangladeshis struggled with inflation, unemployment, and stagnant wages. Instead, they propose a “people-centered economy” that strengthens local businesses, expands labor protections, and raises wages for workers in key industries such as the garment sector.

Foreign policy is another area where the NCP seeks a break from the past. Unlike previous administrations, which oscillated between aligning with China, India, and Western powers, the party advocates for a neutral foreign policy based on Bangladesh’s own interests. Leaders emphasize that economic partnerships should not come at the cost of national sovereignty and that Bangladesh must redefine its relationships with regional and global powers on more equal terms.

The party is also positioning itself as a champion of climate justice. With Bangladesh on the frontlines of climate change, NCP leaders argue that environmental policies should be central to national development. They propose a large-scale shift toward green energy and stronger protections for coastal communities at risk of rising sea levels and extreme weather.

“This is not just about removing a dictator. This is about building a country where every citizen, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or class, has a voice,” said Samanta Sharmeen, a senior party leader.

A New Chapter in Bangladesh’s History?

The road ahead for the NCP will not be easy. The interim government remains fragile, old political forces may attempt to regain control, and the country is still grappling with economic instability.

But for the thousands who took to the streets in 2024, the message is clear: they are not going back.

“The people of Bangladesh have awakened,” said Ahmede Hussain, a Bangladeshi writer and political analyst. “For the first time in decades, a new political force is emerging that is not tied to the past. Whether they succeed or not, the NCP represents a new era for Bangladesh.”

The movement that once defied bullets is now preparing for ballots. Whether it reshapes the country’s political landscape remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: Bangladesh’s youth are not leaving the fight anytime soon.