In his latest video, senior journalist Masood Kamal offered a sharp analysis of Nepal’s freshly concluded parliamentary elections, contrasting them with Bangladesh’s recent political transitions. Highlighting the success of Nepal’s youth-led movement in steering a stable government, Kamal criticized what he described as the mishandling of Bangladesh’s interim period under Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which he claims derailed the country’s young activists and led to their electoral failure.
Kamal began by noting that Nepal’s elections, which wrapped up just a day prior, have yet to yield final results but already point to a decisive victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a centrist outfit founded three years ago by Rabi Lamichhane, a former TV anchor. Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper and Kathmandu mayor, joined the party along with 30 members of his team in December last year.
“This party is neither extreme right nor extreme left—it’s moderate,” Kamal explained, emphasizing that the RSP was not a creation of the youth protesters but received their strong endorsement. He described the youth movement in Nepal—often dubbed the “Gen Z uprising”—as inspired by Bangladesh’s own protests, yet far more effective in translating activism into electoral gains.
Outlining Nepal’s parliamentary system, Kamal pointed out that with 275 seats—165 elected directly and 110 allocated proportionally—the RSP is poised to secure around 120 direct seats, potentially more, ensuring a “landslide” majority and ending the era of unstable coalitions. “This time, Nepal won’t have the shaky parliament we’ve seen before,” he remarked, crediting the outcome to the youth’s strategic support for an established party rather than hasty self-promotion.
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A key focus of Kamal’s commentary was the role of Nepal’s interim leader, Sushila Karki, a former Chief Justice who assumed charge post-protests and swiftly scheduled elections for March 5. He praised her for resisting demands from young activists for cabinet positions or administrative influence, stating, “She handled it with a firm hand and clearly said she wouldn’t let Nepal become like Bangladesh—where youths were made ministers, acted arrogantly, and engaged in looting and scandals.” Karki’s insistence on legitimate electoral paths, according to Kamal, prevented derailment and fostered a natural progression for the movement.
In a striking example, Kamal highlighted RSP leader Balendra Shah’s bold challenge against veteran politician K.P. Sharma Oli in his own Jhapa constituency. Despite Oli’s boasts of victory and his party’s past popularity, Shah won by a wide margin. “This wasn’t about bypassing the people or relying on favors— it was about earning power through public mandate,” Kamal said, urging a similar approach in Bangladesh: “Don’t ban parties like Awami League through orders; let the people decide at the ballot box.”
Turning to Bangladesh, Kamal lambasted the interim government under Dr. Yunus for allegedly “corrupting” the youth by encouraging them to form parties prematurely and chase personal benefits. He accused the youths—referred to as “Gen Z”—of acting like “kings,” interfering in official transfers for money, and engaging in “thuggery,” resulting in a dismal performance where they secured only six out of 300 seats. “Our Gen Z floated with the current, seeking quick gains, while Nepal’s succeeded because they let things flow naturally without forming rushed parties,” he contrasted.
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Kamal attributed Bangladesh’s setbacks to Yunus’s “greedy and self-centered” leadership, claiming he deliberately “spoiled” the young generation to serve foreign interests, making future youth movements harder to trust. “We fell into the hands of a lobhi (greedy) person like Dr. Yunus, who trampled their aspirations and left them ruined,” he said, noting that Yunus now requires special security, unlike Karki. In Nepal, he added, the movement’s fruits were entrusted to an “incorruptible” figure like Karki, ensuring positive outcomes.
Concluding on a somber note, Kamal reflected that such differences stem from fate beyond control. “There’s no point grieving—it was perhaps our destiny,” he said, signing off with a call for reflection amid ongoing political challenges in the region.
Kamal’s remarks, delivered in his signature candid style, have sparked discussions on social media about the lessons from Nepal’s model for fostering genuine democratic transitions in South Asia. As Bangladesh grapples with its post-interim governance, analysts suggest his critique underscores the perils of unchecked interim authority and the value of public-driven change.