From Protest to Power: The Role of the 2024 Student Movement in Bangladesh's Regime Change

The 2024 student movement in Bangladesh, initially focused on reforming the quota system, quickly evolved into a broader challenge to the authoritarian regime, acting as a catalyst for regime change. The movement highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with government legitimacy and mobilized citizens across Dhaka, demonstrating the power of youth-led democratization. This study examines the extent to which the student movement influenced political actors, weakened governmental legitimacy, and contributed to regime change relative to other societal forces. Data were collected from 120 respondents in Dhaka city through a Likert-scale survey, and analysis was conducted using frequency distributions and Chi-square tests to test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that the student movement played a decisive role in the political transition, not only energizing public participation but also shaping the strategies of key political actors. The initiatives and strategies adopted by students underscore the capacity of organized youth movements to influence national politics. These results suggest that future civic movements can similarly leverage mass mobilization and legitimacy crises to promote democratic transitions, offering important lessons for both scholars and policymakers interested in youth activism and political change.