The actions of Bangladesh's students in overthrowing despotic rulers, who were supported by powerful regional forces, stand as an unparalleled achievement in the Indo-Pak-Bangladesh subcontinent.

Through a disciplined and united movement, they ousted the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, secured the army’s backing for a democratically elected government, reaffirmed the nation's pluralistic values, guaranteed dignity for all citizens, and helped a Nobel Prize winner lead the country for the common good.

This feat remains a distant dream for the students of India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. In its 78-year history, Pakistan has failed to inspire its youth to challenge dictators and military generals or to fight for a pluralistic and progressive society.

Divided by ethnicity, religious sectarianism, and fanaticism, the younger generation has not recognized their fellow citizens as equals deserving dignity and equality. Under the sway of religious extremists, bigots, and misguided liberals, Pakistan’s youth have succumbed to a culture of subservience to the power elites.

In India, caste and religious differences have fostered a culture of hatred and violence, weakening the youth’s potential by channeling their energies into destructive conflicts based on false notions of cultural superiority. Sri Lanka’s story is similar. In contrast, Bangladesh’s youth from diverse backgrounds took to the streets, risking their lives to transform their homeland into a place of peace and progress for all.

With over 65 percent of Bangladesh’s population under the age of 35, the country’s future looks bright. It’s no surprise that Bangladesh is poised to become the "Japan of South Asia." The youth are enthusiastic, proud of their cultural heritage and linguistic unity, and aware of the challenges of the times.

They are hardworking, dignified, and self-respecting, having endured a history of repression—first under the elites of Pakistan and then under local despots who attempted to compromise the country’s soul, particularly in favor of neighboring India and its Hindutva-led government.

However, like other South Asian nations, Bangladesh faces serious threats from the Hindutva forces in India. The militant Hindu organization RSS aims to forcibly convert large populations in Sindh, Balochistan, Bengal, and Punjab to its version of Hinduism. By inciting tensions between Hindus and Muslims, it has consistently sought to destabilize the region.

India’s political and military ambitions under the Hindutva government are no secret. During the recent student movement in Bangladesh, it tried to exploit old videos of riots between Muslims and Hindus to weaken the democratic uprising.

Yet, the emerging student leadership in Bangladesh successfully countered this propaganda, not only physically protecting minority places of worship but also visiting their neighborhoods to assure them of their constitutional rights.

In stark contrast to the violent mobs led by Hindutva gangs in India, the students of Bangladesh did not engage in lynchings or the destruction of minority homes. Instead, they bravely defended places of worship, even at the risk of their lives.

This spirit of citizenship will guide Bangladesh into an era of unprecedented peace and progress. The nation must remain vigilant against the designs of Hindutva forces, which seek to ignite the flames of hatred and bigotry against those who do not conform to their racist and supremacist ideology.