Nusrat Jahan (Shoronika) :
When the roots of a tree dry up, no matter how much it tries to show green leaves, that tree cannot survive. The state is much like that tree where the selfishness, corruption, and injustice of the ruler dry up the roots.
Then ordinary people, especially the young generation, take to the streets in search of new rain and new sunshine. Today, the waves of anti-government movements rising in different corners of the world are mainly born out of that thirst for change.
Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Latin American country Peru are three different lands, three different histories. But they are bound by a common thread.
In every country, people have taken to the streets against the existing power. In Bangladesh, the recent political deadlock, the demand for fair elections, and the economic crisis have excited the youth. From university campuses to the streets, everywhere the demand for change is being heard.
In Nepal, prolonged political instability, corruption, frequent changes of governments and unemployment have frustrated the youth. The people of the mountainous country now want new leadership that will show them a path to a stable future.
On the other hand, in Peru, the removal of President Pedro Castillo was the starting point of the movement. The people of the Andean region, especially the indigenous communities, feel they have always been neglected. Since Dina Boluarte came to power, they have been demanding her resignation, and the movement has spread across various regions of the country.
The young society of Bangladesh has previously taken to the streets for justice from the Language Movement to the Liberation War of 1971, or the recent quota reform movement, it has been proven again and again that justice is most important to the youth.
Today, they are once again demanding new leadership in the same way. The young generation of Nepal has not received the expected benefits from parliamentary democracy. Due to frequent changes of government and corruption of political leaders, public trust has diminished. The youth are now using social media to organize and demand political accountability.
The situation in Peru is even more complex. Farmers, workers, and students of the Andean region feel that the ruling authorities work only for the interests of the capital. That is why they have resorted to intense movements, including road blockades and airport blockades.
If one looks deeper into the movements of Bangladesh, Nepal, or Peru, some common reasons are evident everywhere. The first among them is corruption and lack of accountability. People believe that once politicians come to power, they work for their own interests, not for the people of the country. Corruption has become a global disease.
Economic disparity and unemployment are major causes. Young people, even after finishing their studies, are not getting jobs. On the other hand, the gap between rich and poor is widening. This creates frustration.
The weakness of democratic structures also plays an active role here. The absence of fair and neutral elections, suppression of opposition voices, and weakness of the rule of law are all breaking people’s trust. Regional disparities are also reasons for movements.
Even though development is visible in capitals or central regions, marginalized people feel deprived. The same complaint is heard in Peru’s Andean region, Bangladesh’s rural areas, and Nepal’s remote mountainous regions.
Globalization and technology have their influence too. Social media shows the movements of one country to the youth of another and inspires them. They are realizing that taking to the streets for demands of change has become a global trend.
Movements cannot be stopped merely by suppression. Rather, their causes must be resolved. Fair and transparent elections must be ensured. People must be able to believe that their votes have value. This is the key to political stability. Employment for the youth must be arranged.
Without employment, the frustrated young society cannot be kept calm. Alongside education and skills development, industrialization must be promoted. Corruption must be eradicated and the rule of law ensured. Corruption must be punished strictly, and political rulers must also be brought under accountability. Development must be equal regionally.
People living far from the center must also be given equal opportunities and infrastructure facilities. Opportunities must be given for young leadership. Outside of old leadership, the new generation must be given space in politics. If their ideas and thoughts are included in politics, positive change may come.
The movements of Bangladesh, Nepal, or Peru, though in different geographical contexts, are actually carrying the same voice. The young generation seems to be saying we do not want corruption, we do not want disparity, and we do not want absolute power.
We want justice, equal opportunity, and transparent leadership. Today’s youth are not fighting only for bread and livelihood, but they are fighting for democracy, freedom, and human dignity. These movements prove that the new generation of the world wants to build their own future themselves. If the state denies their voice, the fire of anger will only grow stronger.
(The writer is a student of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Jagannath
University, Email: [email protected])
