Bangladeshi students inspired by Erdogan, Imran Khan and Kejriwal

 

Bangladeshi students inspired by Erdogan, Imran Khan and Kejriwal

Whatever the theory, there is no way to predict how popular the new student party will be. But it is also true that no newly formed party in the country in the last 40 years has been able to make such an electoral gain.

But in the last few decades, there are examples in different countries around the world where new political parties came to power in a short time. And the eyes of Bangladeshi students are on these political figures.

Among them, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, Pakistan’s Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf and India’s Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party have particularly gained global attention.

Students are studying the programs, organizational structures, etc. of these three new parties in search of a ‘mantra’ for success. For example, they are considering how former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan became the third force from the PML-N and the PPP and how he gained popularity among the people.

When asked about this by the youth, Ali Ahsan Junaid, joint convener of the National Citizen Committee, told the BBC that they are working on this issue and discussions are also underway on how these parties became popular among the people.

He says, “We are studying how these political parties actually reached out to the people, what kind of strategy they adopted to understand the problems and feelings of the people and what their constitutional structure is like.”

Ali Ahsan Junaid, joint convener of the National Citizens Committee, said, “We are trying to understand how the youth of this region understand politics and then what new ideology and program they have brought to the table. Which the people of this country have accepted and given them the responsibility of governing politically.”

He added, “Here you will see that Erdogan’s party focuses on justice. Its name is the Justice and Development Party. We are also saying the same.”

Ali Ahsan Junaid says, “We are also talking about justice and good governance. On the other hand, India’s Aam Aadmi Party has attracted highly educated youth from home and abroad. It has taken strong actions against corruption. We are watching all these things and political points with interest.”

Bangladesh

But who will have the main responsibility?

It is not yet clear who will be at the top of this new political party or force. Rumors are also circulating in the political landscape of Bangladesh that the advisor to the interim government, Nahid Islam, may take over this position himself. In that case, he will resign from his position as an advisor.

However, whoever gets the top post is certain to be one of the youth leading this movement.

But the question is, will only the youth be seen in important positions in this new political party or will there be a place for experienced people as well?

Student Movement Coordinator Abu Bakar Muzaffar says, “Although the youth will be the majority in this case, experienced people can be given a place at different levels of the party leadership.”

He said, “Along with the youth, there are many senior citizens who are ready to join us in politics.” We are also in the process of bringing in different people from the community and civil society who have been in politics for a long time or are inducting such people into our new political party,” Abu Bakar Muzaffar said. “Just like our advisory panel will include youth and elders. Other committees of the party will have elders as well as youth.”

If all goes well, the new group of students will arrive in the third week of February. However, the chief advisor said that the new group is coming at a time when national elections could be held by next December.

If that happens, the new party will have to face elections very soon.

In that case, although there are doubts about whether this new party of Bangladesh will initially field candidates in all parliamentary constituencies of the country or whether it even has the capacity to do so. But people associated with the potential new party are now talking about participating in elections in all constituencies.

The leaders of the Citizens Committee are confident that they will find pro-coup parties with them in their political journey. However, they are not currently thinking about joining any alliance or forming an electoral alliance before the vote.

Because they want to become a major political party on their own.