Islamist Party’s Rise Overshadows Student Revolution in Bangladesh

An Islamist party that once operated largely underground has emerged as a major force in Bangladesh’s new political landscape, winning 68 of 297 parliamentary seats in the first national election since the student-led uprising. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a clear majority, and its leader, Tarique Rahman, is set to become prime minister, but Jamaat-e-Islami’s gains surprised many after its youth wing swept student elections at the University of Dhaka last year.

The National Citizen Party, formed by leaders of the 2024 student movement, allied with Jamaat to increase its electoral chances, yet it won only six of the 30 seats it contested. Voters did back broad constitutional reforms in a referendum, including a bicameral legislature and term limits for prime ministers, even as the student movement’s political imprint remained uneven.

Analysts warned the student movement may struggle to sustain momentum.

Bangladesh, Dhaka

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