South Asia is seeing youth-led protests upending long-standing political orders.
In Bangladesh (2024), students revolted against nepotism, especially a 30% quota for descendants of Liberation War veterans.
The protests expanded beyond quotas to target Sheikh Hasina’s extended rule and perceived authoritarianism.
Opposition parties like BNP were weakened, leaving little outlet for institutional resistance.
In Nepal (September 2025), the spark was a government ban on 26 social media platforms.
Nepali Gen Z used tools like TikTok, VPNs, and messaging apps to organize and protest censorship.
Violent crackdowns ensued in Nepal, with deaths and the resignation of PM K P Sharma Oli.
Both uprisings share drivers: economic stagnation, job scarcity, corruption, and political exclusion.
Digital connectivity has amplified youth voices and facilitated mobilisation.
Bangladesh’s youth protests had less diffusion, more focused against a ruling party; Nepal’s wrestled with rejecting broader political structures.
The uprisings signal a generational awakening demanding dignity, fairness, transparent governance.
Despite momentum, economic issues in Bangladesh remain unresolved a year later.
Nepal has high youth unemployment (~20.8% for ages 15-24), pushing many to migrate.
This warns autocratic governments that youth-led uprisings, fueled by digital mobilisation and demands for dignity, can swiftly dismantle entrenched power structures.