After incredibly momentous week in Bangladesh, the importance of student politicians can not be understated enough in the country to the outside world. 

Students have been at the vanguard of political protest in Bengali politics. They have a particular place and touch a nerve in the Bangladeshi psyche. They led the protests against the Bangla language being banned in the official business of Pakistan in East Bengal from 1947 onwards and were numerous among the February 21st 1952 language martyrs. They also played an active role during the 1971 Liberation from the Pakistan army.

At the end of this week, Bangladesh student leaders will have ousted a prime minister, negotiated with the military, successfully advocated for Prof Yunus to lead a new interim government, and then secure two slots in that interim government for themselves – what an achievement for youth politics!  

Students against Discrimination based in Dhaka University campaigned against the quota system for jobs in government, now have two members in the interim government, Nahid Islam and Nasif Mahmud. Nahid Islam will head the country’s Telecommunications Ministry, while Nasif Mahmud was chosen to lead the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

While law and order issues are the immediate concerns of most citizens in the country, as well running an free and fair election will be the main concerns of the interim government, watch this space in Bangladeshi politics for the future leaders of the country.