The students who led Bangladesh’s biggest anti-government protests in recent years, forcing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down, have now entered politics by launching a new party to challenge the existing ones.

Their decision has faced strong criticism from the Awami League and its exiled leaders. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina’s son, called them “terrorists” and compared them to General Zia, who founded the Bangladesh National Party. “The terrorist students have launched their own political party. They are doing everything true fascist dictators have done in the past. Seize power through violence, kill the opposition, then launch a political party and rig an election to stay in power. General Zia did this and created the BNP, General Ershad did this and created the Jatiya Party. Now these terrorists have created the JNP (Jatiya Nagorik Party). Next step is to have a rigged election," Joy said in his statement.

Thousands of students protested across Bangladesh, accusing Sheikh Hasina's government of vote rigging, police brutality and authoritarianism. The movement, which later turned violent, was driven by their belief that the Awami League had become oppressive. They demanded a new political voice that truly represented the youth. “They have given the title of Imam to Nahid. We have been saying all along that they are fundamentalists. This further proves it. These terrorists openly called for violence against the police and Awami League and killed hundreds. They ordered the bulldozing of Bangabandhu’s house, where our Independence was declared and Bangabandhu and his entire family were murdered. They carried out mob violence against anyone who disagreed with them," he added. Joy’s statement shows that the senior leaders of the Awami League, even while in hiding, have not given up their political influence in Bangladesh. By calling them extremists and ‘fascists,’ the Awami League is trying to discredit the movement and present it as a danger to stability. 

Critics believe this is yet another example of Hasina’s strategy to regain power. “After demolishing the house of the Father of the Nation, they talk about the spirit of the Liberation War? After killing police and politicians, they talk about replacing vengeance? After attacking minorities, they talk about replacing division? This is a joke. If all of this is acceptable, then why blame the Awami League? Remember, just like past fascists, these terrorists are in power without any mandate. This is now a political government, one that the people of Bangladesh did not elect. It is a dictatorship and no dictator holds free and fair elections," he said in his statement. The political situation in Bangladesh is highly divided, and the creation of this party sets the stage for a fierce battle between the established leaders and a new generation that refuses to be ignored.