CFR’s Joshua Kurlantzick pulls no punches in analyzing Bangladesh’s elections, where Gen Z’s protest prowess dissolved into polling disappointment. The 2024 uprising that felled Sheikh Hasina stood as Asia’s Gen Z landmark, fueling unrest in Nepal, halting in Indonesia, and echoing globally to Africa and the Caribbean.
Hopes ran high for a youth-driven political sea change. But Kurlantzick’s verdict is blunt: Street protests prevail, elections punish. Thailand’s youth darlings tanked; Japan’s old guard triumphed over Gen Z newcomers.
In Bangladesh, Hasina’s departure ushered BNP to dominance—the flip side of the Awami-BNP rivalry. Landslide winners with reform pledges, yet eyed warily by a distrustful public.
The student-formed NCP mustered only six wins from 30 contests, a lackluster debut by Kurlantzick’s measure. The electorate chose BNP to fortify institutions, spur development, fight corruption, and rewrite the constitution.
BNP’s tenure will reveal its mettle: Reform or relapse? Failure spells continuity of Bangladesh’s chronic issues, per the report. Jamaat-e-Islami’s solid showing, despite a makeover, drags in memories of brutality and patriarchy, plus waves of pre-election violence.
The ballot day was clean, but the lead-up bloody—a Bangladeshi staple. For Gen Z, it’s a wake-up: Protests pack punch, polls demand strategy. BNP’s success could redefine the movement; flops might sideline it.