Thousands in Bangladesh rallied behind the students who ousted Sheikh Hasina and formed the National Citizen Party (NCP) this year, but the group now struggles to convert street power into votes as it confronts entrenched rivals with vast networks ahead of February’s polls.

“Our organisation is weak because we haven’t had enough time to build it,” said its chief Nahid Islam, prominent in last year’s deadly anti-government protests who served briefly in the caretaker administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Polls Show Party Pushed To Third Place

Opinion polls show the NCP, which aims to contest all 300 seats, in third place, with support of just 6%, far behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, which leads with 30%.

Even the hardline

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