In Bangladesh, we are experiencing significant change politically; as this occurs, current issues associated with whether or not the government’s newest legislative initiative is actually turning back some of the reforms that students were fighting for are beginning to gain attention. According to Al Jazeera, newer parliamentarians have removed some of the changes adopted following the protesters’ actions in 2024, which were meant to increase government accountability, limit some centralised power within the political system and overhaul government structure after former PM Sheikh Hasina exited from politics as PM.
What Were These “Student-Led Reforms”?
Following the Protests of 2024, primarily led by Gen Z activists, the Government of Bangladesh established an interim government under its previous Prime Minister, Muhammad Yunus, and was tasked with implementing systemic reforms.
These reforms would be outlined in a broad roadmap often referred to as the “July Charter,” and would include:
- Amendments to the Constitution
- Independence of the Judiciary
- Term Limits for National Leadership
- Bicameral Parliamentary Structure
- Greater transparency in governance
The goal of these actions was simple: to stop authoritarianism and create an even political landscape after years of political unrest.
So, Why Did Parliament Cancel Them?
It’s not as simple as saying it is “anti-student,” rather, it is politically driven.
1. The Existing Political Power Struggle
As a result of their parliamentary majority, the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) has a great deal of power to interpret constitutional legality, which means that they can shape/ delay reform.
In addition, the rival political parties [Jamaat-e-Islami and the student-backed parties] are demanding that these changes be implemented immediately, resulting in a deadlock.
2. The Political Disagreement Over the Legitimacy of the Reforms
There is a significant disagreement in Bangladesh as to whether the reforms have been properly institutionalised. A number of lawmakers believe that the:
- Interim reforms were not debated in Congress
- Reforms must be approved by Congress
- If Congress tries to implement the reforms before they receive Congress’s approval, the government may be subject to legal challenges.
This has resulted in some members of Congress declining to join the reform council that is intended to implement these changes.
3. Fear of Losing Political Control
Some of the proposed reforms (e.g. proportional representation and limiting executive power) would reduce the dominance of the major political parties.
Since it is a newly elected government, the government would not have a political incentive to implement the reforms immediately.
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Is This the End of the Student Revolution?
Although it is not “completely new; it is certainly an important moment.
A student-led movement that has changed the political landscape of Bangladesh is still in full swing. The moving force behind it has resulted in the emergence of new political organisations – such as the National Citizens’ Party – that seek to carry out reform after the 2024 uprising.
However, many young voters are now finding themselves unhappy with the current situation:
1. The euphoria of the 2024 uprising has diminished over time.
2. Traditional political parties regain control of their power, and “the youth of today feel that hope is gone.”
3. Promised change is slow to take effect, and there may be times when it will not happen at all.
Recently, research done on this issue shows that youth continue to be involved in the political process, but that they are no longer feeling that the pace of change will continue as rapidly as they had originally expected.
What Will be the Future?
There are several factors that will determine the future of the reforms happening now:
• Whether parliament will return to the reforms and make modifications to their implementation.
• Political negotiations between the two main political parties.
• Continued pressure from youth advocates and community-based organisations.
The single most significant challenge for the future of the reforms is to establish a working reform council and reach an agreement on how the changes will be legally implemented.
Conclusion
The repeal of many important reforms does not mean that transformation has ceased to exist; however, it demonstrates the difficulty involved in achieving real transformation.
Bangladesh finds itself at a crossroads today. The enthusiasm of the student revolution, which has challenged the system, has now become the system’s resistance against implementing the desired changes.
The outcome of whether there can be a compromise or an escalation of conflict will determine the political future of Bangladesh for the next few months.
