Date: 27 November 2025
In 2024, Bangladesh experienced a historic youth-led uprising, widely known as the “July Revolution.” Initially sparked by student protests over civil service quota reform, the movement quickly expanded to address issues such as corruption and demands for greater democratic accountability. The protests culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the formation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Drivers of Youth Mobilization
In Bangladesh, young people are mobilizing around issues of fairness, accountability and democratic inclusion. The reinstatement of quotas in the civil service, particularly the 30% reserved for descendants of veterans of the 1971 Liberation War, sparked widespread concern over meritocracy and equal opportunity. Frequent traffic accidents and inadequate road safety measures have galvanized youth activism, highlighting government negligence and the urgent need for public safety reforms. Systemic corruption, lack of transparency, forced disappearance, rigged elections, weak constitutional institutions and governance failures further fuel frustration, as young people demand ethical leadership and accountable institutions. Beyond these, broader social justice concerns, including freedom of expression, protection from violence, restore voting rights and human rights, are driving youth to push for a more inclusive, rights-respecting, and participatory democracy in Bangladesh.
Organization and Voice
Young people are organizing and amplifying their voices through a mix of digital and grassroots strategies. They leverage social media platforms, messaging apps, and online campaigns to coordinate protests, share information, and mobilize supporters nationwide. Offline, youth-led initiatives include mass demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, and civil disobedience actions, often decentralized to enable safe local participation. Cultural expressions such as protest songs, murals, street performances, and creative art campaigns have also become powerful tools for raising awareness. By combining digital connectivity with on-the-ground activism, young people are drawing national attention, building civic networks, and challenging traditional political hierarchies.
Leading the Movement: A Perspective from the Ground
Much of the coordination during the 2024 student-led movement happened very quietly through trusted networks built over the years. We focused on making sure that young people had factually correct information, emotional support, and safe avenues for expressing themselves. In a situation where misinformation spread like wildfire and where fear gripped everyone, youth leaders became anchors of clarity and courage. Our job was to help young people recognize their collective power without pushing them into harm’s way, balancing the urgency of the moment with the responsibility of safeguarding the communities we serve.
What stood out most was how young Bangladeshis, across divides of urban and rural, student and working, activist and first-time protester, connected. Youth organisations like ours helped bridge these divides, creating a shared civic language rooted in justice and dignity. We organized community check-ins, online briefings, awareness sessions, and coordinated messaging to make sure the movement’s voice remained united even when the streets were filled with tension. Moments of grief, including the loss of fellow youth, became moments where leadership meant holding space for healing while keeping hope alive.
One reflection that stayed with many of us came from Munira Mahjabin Mimo, a student from Dhaka University, who said, “To me, these 36 days of movement represent a powerful example of breaking the culture of fear and building resistance.” Her words echoed the sentiments of thousands of young people who found courage in one another.
A deeply personal perspective came from Rafid Ariyan, an activist and artist who shared, “The wounds from those days still stay with me, but turning that pain into art and action is how I’ve learned to keep breathing.”
Challenges and Opportunities
Youth engagement faces both challenges and opportunities in shaping democracy. Political repression, violent crackdowns, and entrenched institutional resistance make sustained activism risky, while social and political hierarchies limit youth influence in formal decision-making. Corruption and bureaucratic obstacles can also hinder reform efforts. Yet the 2024 uprising demonstrates the potential for young people to reshape political norms, demand transparency, and push for inclusive policymaking. Their digital fluency, grassroots networks, and creative activism provide tools to engage broader society, hold leaders accountable, and advocate for reforms such as constitutional amendments, merit-based governance, and human rights protections. If nurtured, youth activism in Bangladesh can strengthen democratic participation, foster civic responsibility, and set lasting precedents for accountable governance.
Legacy
The July Movement illustrates how youth activism can connect multiple social issues into a broader democratic agenda, including climate and environmental justice. Landmark documents such as the July Declaration (August 5, 2024) and July Charter (October 17, 2025) reflect youth aspirations for political reform, justice, and environmentally resilient development. While the newly formed party of students, named National Citizens Party (NCP), initially boycotted the Charter over legal enforceability concerns, it continues to advocate for binding reforms and represents a youth-driven push for a new, transparent, and merit-based political order. Today, as we continue to rebuild and support young people through advocacy, civic education, and mental health support, it is without a doubt that Bangladesh’s Generation Z has redefined what mobilization looks like. They are not waiting for permission to shape their democracy. They are leading with empathy, creativity, and an unshakable belief that their voices matter. Our role as leaders of youth groups is also changing, shifting from emergency mobilisation toward long-term democratic strengthening. We help young people transform their courage into sustainable commitment, ensuring that the progress made in moments of crisis becomes the foundation for a more just and inclusive future.
If anything, the last few years have made one thing clear: when young people organize with purpose and in solidarity with one another, they do more than raise their voices; they change the course of a nation.
Members of the YDC who contributed to this section:
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator, YouthNet Global
Rakib Hassan Siam, General Secretary, Kashful Foundation
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