Recent uprisings in Bangladesh and Nepal and the national elections that have followed or are soon to take place are creating fresh strategic opportunities for Washington, according to Bill Huizenga, chair of the US House Subcommittee on South and Central Asia. Speaking at a congressional hearing, he said both nations are undergoing significant political transitions that could reshape America’s regional engagement.
Bangladesh has just held its first national election since the 2024 uprising that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. Nepal, meanwhile, is preparing for a democratic vote next month after the fall of its authoritarian leadership in September 2025, driven largely by a youth‑led movement. Huizenga argued that the combined impact of these shifts marks the beginning of a new chapter for US involvement in South Asia.
He described South and Central Asia as a dynamic region of nearly two billion people, home to rapidly expanding economies and vital maritime corridors. In his view, the region’s young population is increasingly drawn to Western democratic values rather than what he called China’s authoritarian alternative.
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