Dhaka, Bangladesh – Millions of young Bangladeshis will head to the polls on Thursday in a landmark election that will determine the country’s leadership following the 2024 student-led uprising that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
Youth Power at the Ballot
Young people aged 18 to 27 make up 44 percent of Bangladesh’s 129 million voters, many of whom never cast a ballot under Hasina’s tenure, which was marred by allegations of rigging and bans on opposition parties.
For many, this election represents their first real opportunity to shape the country’s future.
“It was mainly because of fear and anxiety that I didn’t go [to vote],” said Faijullah Wasif, 33, a university official preparing to cast his first ballot. “I did not even feel interested.”
Campaigns Targeting Digital Natives
The demographic bulge of younger voters has forced parties to recalibrate their campaigns, with the digital battleground becoming central. Parties have invested heavily in online outreach, from Facebook videos to TikTok reels, aiming to capture the enthusiasm of first-time voters.
Political Landscape
With the Awami League barred from contesting, parties once suppressed under Hasina’s rule are now running:
- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies
- A coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party
- The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by student leaders of the 2024 uprising, allied with Jamaat-e-Islami
“Now that we have managed to change the system, I am very excited,” said Ashfah Binte Latif, 21, a student at Dhaka University. “If [the student leaders] fail, it’s a failure for all of the young.”
Roots of the Uprising
The spark that ignited the 2024 unrest began on university campuses, where students opposed a civil service quota system they said excluded them from jobs. A year and a half later, Bangladesh’s economy remains fragile, and graduates continue to struggle to secure employment.
Expectations and Hopes
Election expert Md Abdul Alim, a former member of Bangladesh’s election reform commission, predicts a strong youth turnout:
“These young voters will carry this sense of deprivation with them to the polls, and they will vote.”
Of the 2,000 candidates vying for 350 seats, more than 600 are aged 44 or below, according to electoral commission statistics.
Wasif believes the influx of fresh faces will benefit Bangladesh:
“Our trust in young people is very strong, and our hopes are high. Since young people brought about this change, I believe it is through them that Bangladesh’s political culture will undergo a radical transformation.”
Latif echoed the sentiment, hoping for a more democratic leadership:
“A government that won’t see dissenting voices as enemies, but will respect them.”
Conclusion
As Bangladesh heads into this historic vote, the energy of its youth electorate is set to reshape the nation’s political culture. With nearly half of voters under 27, the election could mark the beginning of a new era defined by democratic participation, accountability, and respect for dissenting voices.
