The transformation from an anti-establishment movement into a mainstream force is never easy.
Mar 7, 2025 07:35 IST First published on: Mar 7, 2025 at 07:35 IST
Following the Liberation War in 1971, a secular nation-state based on linguistic nationalism was established in Bangladesh. It was, in many ways, a rejection of the religious nationalism that continues to define Pakistan. Since its inception, however, Bangladesh has navigated a dual identity where Bengali linguistic nationalism has coexisted, often uneasily, with the influence of orthodox Islam in its political culture. Since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, the latter has been regaining prominence. A stark example of this was visible in an incident in January when a women’s football match was cancelled after students from a religious school vandalised the venue. Earlier, in November, a mystic sect promoting religious inclusivity had to cancel their music festival after Islamist threats. Post-Hasina, emboldened Islamist groups have been returning to the mainstream after facing crackdowns for years. Against this backdrop and ahead of the elections expected to take place this year, the student-led movement that spearheaded the protests that led to Hasina’s downfall has launched the Jatiya Nagorik Party or the National Citizens’ Party (NCP).
The NCP’s promise of a “second republic” reflects a determination to reshape Bangladesh’s political framework. The immediate challenge for the country is safeguarding its democratic credentials, which hinge on free and fair elections. Hasina’s Awami League has been isolated. However, the support that the interim government initially enjoyed has also begun to fade, as Muhammad Yunus now faces pressure to deliver tangible results. Since Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has been gripped by political turbulence and economic hardship, along with a deteriorating law-and-order situation. The NCP is entering the political scene at a time when the dust hasn’t fully settled, and the people seek a strong and stable governance.
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The transformation from an anti-establishment movement into a mainstream force is never easy. The NCP has made a strong start, with its display of religious inclusivity at its rally, where recitations from both the Quran and Bhagvad Gita sought to deliver a message of unity — significant, given concerns over the security of Hindu minorities in post-Hasina Bangladesh. If it pursues multiculturalism and secularism, it could pose a formidable threat to the right-wing Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The true test for the NCP will be whether it can fight for a more just, inclusive, and democratic Bangladesh.
