Bangladesh First?

The article focuses on the political crisis in Bangladesh following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian government in 2024, ending nearly three decades of dominance by the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). It highlights the emergence of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), a new political force originating from student protests, which advocates for institutional reforms, electoral overhaul, and anti-corruption measures to break the entrenched two-party system. Despite its reformist agenda and digital mobilization strategies, the NCP faces significant challenges from entrenched political interests, a partisan bureaucracy, a cautious military establishment, fragmented opposition, and media constraints. The article underscores that Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture, with the potential for democratic transformation contingent on overcoming these obstacles and sustaining political momentum.