Bangladesh’s temporary government is struggling to keep people safe, making it hard to hold elections this year, said Nahid Islam, the leader of a new political party. Last August, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power after big protests led by students, some of which turned violent. The interim government, led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, recently announced that elections might not happen until the end of 2025, even though protests are still going on.
Islam, a 26-year-old former student leader who recently became the head of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), feels the situation is not safe enough for a national election. He shared his views during his first interview as party leader at a government-provided house in Dhaka. His comments are significant because he was an adviser in the interim government and is the first important politician to question Yunus’s election timetable.
Experts think that this young party could change the long-standing politics in Bangladesh, which has been controlled by Hasina’s Awami League and Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party for many years. Both of these traditional parties want elections to happen soon, believing a democratically elected government should take charge again.
There have been incidents of violence, such as attacks on government symbols and clashes among different student groups. Reports also suggest there are attacks on homes and businesses, especially targeting Hindus and other minority groups, although the interim government claims these reports are exaggerated.
Islam stated that the NCP, formed just last week, will be ready for the elections whenever they occur. However, he stressed that before the elections can be held, everyone needs to agree on a document called the ‘Proclamation of the July Revolution.’ This document is being created with input from political parties and student activists and should reflect what the Bangladeshi people want.
If they can agree on this document within a month, elections could happen quickly. However, if it takes longer, they should wait to hold elections. Islam also mentioned that many wealthy people in Bangladesh are helping to fund the NCP, and they plan to raise money through crowdfunding for a new office and for the election.
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