Very hopeful': Cautious optimism among Gen Z Bangladeshis after key vote

"Many young Bangladeshis who voted for the first time described the election as historic, but falling short of their expectations. As Generation Z, we didn't get the expected representation and results after shedding so much blood and losing lives, student Afsana Hossain Himi told Al Jazeera. Still, we are very hopeful. We have representatives from the younger generation, and we hope they will do something good, she said, referring to the six NCP winners."

"The landmark Bangladesh election held last week was triggered by a Gen Z-led uprising in 2024, yet a youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) born out of the uprising managed to secure only six parliamentary seats out of the 297, the results of which are available. The results, officially declared on Saturday, showed that voters overwhelmingly chose the long-established Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which comfortably defeated a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, of which the NCP is a key partner."

A Gen Z-led uprising in 2024 triggered a landmark Bangladesh election that resulted in a decisive victory for the long-established Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP), born from the uprising, won only six of 297 parliamentary seats. Voters overwhelmingly chose the BNP, which defeated a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance that included the NCP. Tarique Rahman of the BNP is set to become prime minister after his party's third national win, most recently governing from 2001 to 2006. Many first-time young voters called the election historic but said results fell short of expectations. The NCP plans to rebuild in opposition and focus on local government elections due in a year. Approximately 56 million voters, about 44 percent of Bangladesh's electorate, are aged 18 to 37.

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