The philosophy behind establishing a new nation following liberation in 1971 needs to be examined to understand why we struggled to assert ourselves as a dignified, sovereign nation for half a century.

Did the ideals of freedom, the historical context of liberation, and the concept of nationhood—both abstractly and concretely—find proper expression within the new nation's framework?

Looking back, the guidance from National Professor Abdur Razzaq, which suggested a stronger opposition in the initial independent parliament, was unfortunately misunderstood and instead, the focus shifted to winning future elections without addressing the immediate issues.

This was the first misstep in undermining democracy from its inception. The population, accustomed to the entertainment of ‘Jatra’ and the religious ‘Mahfil,’ was forced to choose politically between secularism and religiosity from the start.

Various regimes' attempts at ultra-nationalism to define national identity continuously misled the people, obscuring the essence of nationhood. The spirit of liberation, compromised by both internal and external malevolent forces, eventually laid the groundwork for a second wave of independence.

The failure of the conventional power structure to understand the psychological currents among the population ultimately paved the way for the emergence of new power in 2024 with Gen Z.

The self-funded and self-driven ‘Graffiti Project’ by Gen Z across city walls challenges the old adage, "If you can’t change the queen, change yourself." You’ve changed the queen—now, have you changed yourself?

The pressing question is whether you still fear death, fail to recognize the true source of power, downplay the power that comes from the people, continue to create divisions among citizens, perpetuate lies, evade the truth, misuse the law through unlawful orders, and only praise power without holding it accountable.

If you don't break the cycle of "history repeats itself," and address these core issues, then true victory will remain elusive, and another generation may have to bear the burden of fresh sacrifice.

What core questions should prompt the nation to rethink the prevailing narratives of our times?

Will the authoritarian regime shift the blame for popular conspiracy theories, both domestic and international, instead of addressing their own failures to recognize the desire for change?

Are we once again going to fixate on trivial matters, allowing deeper issues to fester and make way for the return of corruption? Will the new generation, like the old, respond with complacency to both comfort and discomfort?

Will we continue to grapple with colonial legacies in governance, or might a new tyrannical regime, akin to that of Maximilien Robespierre after the French Revolution, emerge?

On a broader scale, Gen Z, as the emerging power, must also consider several pressing questions. Will we witness a resurgence of leader-worship, treating leaders as if they were deities?

Will leaders become larger than the nation itself? Will we see a preference for clan loyalty over national unity? Will sovereign interests be subordinated to those of another power, compromising our own?

Will traffic chaos return, with roads being completely closed off to accommodate VIPs?

Will we continue to see VIPs seeking medical treatment abroad while the poor are left with inadequate healthcare? Will the country’s elites still receive special treatment at airports, including lounge access, while those who contribute remittances struggle and are treated as if they were orphans?

Will government support continue to favor the wealthy, leaving the less fortunate to rely solely on divine mercy? Will product prices still quadruple by the time they reach consumers, compared to their source?

Will public servants demand undue respect from those who fund their salaries? Will security forces continue to protect the powerful while the rest of the population lives in fear?

Will passports still differ between ordinary citizens and VIPs, facilitating the laundering of money earned through hard work?

If state institutions fail to distinguish between making a strong impression on camera and achieving lasting, meaningful change within the system, the new generation's efforts to rebuild the state will be in vain.

The myth that power is the ultimate virtue while morality is merely a tool of the weak to constrain the strong persists. This myth is reflected in the unequal power dynamics between the state and its citizens, the compromised behavior of various institutions, and the ongoing tension between liberty and security.

Can we overturn this myth? If we cannot, the sacrifices of countless individuals will be rendered meaningless. If societal power is not translated into state power through effective institutional reforms, Gen Z’s efforts will ultimately amount to nothing.

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Brigadier General (Retd) AF Jaglul Ahmed, ndc, psc, Phd, is a regular contributor in national dailies