The Bangladeshi revolution, the first Gen Z revolution

Bangladesh’s ‘Gen Z revolution’ toppled a veteran leader. Why did they hit the streets and what happens now?​

So almost a month ago now PM Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh, due to ongoing massive student protests. Students at Dhaka University began protesting on July 1st against a law from the war of independence that guarantees 30% of civil service posts to relatives of war veterans. While it played a role to get the veterans and their families integrated into the economy in the 70s and 80s, it had become an obstacle for many students to have any decent chance of finding employment. For the leading elite, many related to freedom fighters, it was a way to guarantee their hold on power. Hasina herself is the daughter of Bangladeshi founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The protests turned violent, and there were clashes with the police, but that just encouraged more young to start protesting, and the protests grew. Even after the Supreme Court struck down the old law, the protests wouldn't end. Despite increased violent responses from the police and the military the protests prevailed and Hasina resigned and fled. An interrim government under Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunnus was proclaimed.

Of course it is hard to see now where this will lead Bangladesh, democratic revolutions does not always end in a stable lasting democracy (just look at Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia for recent examples). And the military might get funny ideas. But for now I remain hopeful for Bangladesh and hope that this is the turn of a new leaf, of a free and fair country. Because we need more of those.

Also, never underestimate the power of the young.

Thanks for posting this. Made me realize how woefully ignorant I am of Bangladeshi politics.