Bangladesh may be on the brink of chaos following last week’s violent removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her departure on August 5, 2024, deepened the crisis as a result. This decision followed weeks of intensifying protests, spearheaded by youth and students, against her three-decade autocratic rule. Protesters escalated their demonstrations following the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, former head of the youth movement. He emerged as a key figure in the 2023 mass uprising against Hasina’s authoritarian government.
Sheikh Hasina, currently the world’s longest serving female leader, has dominated Bangladesh’s one party-driven politics for more than a decade. A week ago, she was condemned to death by hanging. A court just convicted her of crimes against humanity for her government’s violent repression of protestors last year. This verdict has further fueled public outrage, leading many to question whether she will ever face justice for her actions.
Protests Erupt Following Hasina’s Flight
The protests quickly spread as a response to Hasina’s increasing authoritarianism. Critics argue this severe heavy-handed response resulted in numerous fatalities and serious injuries to the protesters themselves. With her inaugural flight to IDX, the protestors have only further sharpened their demands for justice. The environment markedly changed when protesters further raised the stakes by burning down Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence. This act, an attack on Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s first president, became a potent emblem of their opposition to her regime.
In the absence of Hasina, anti-India sentiment, stoked by India’s alleged interventions in Bangladesh, has taken root. Consequently, many see India’s perceived support for Hasina as a double-cross. Protesters vandalized the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong in their fury against India’s involvement in the crisis. The outcry against India is indicative of a bigger, long-standing frustration that’s been simmering under the surface as the politics have changed.
“I cannot be calm until she [Hasina] is brought back and hanged in this country.” – Shaina Begum
Uncertainty Surrounds Justice for Victims
The fight continues to heat up. In the meantime, the families of those who lost their lives in the protests are still waiting to see if justice will ever be served. Hundreds have joined the calls for accountability, fearing that Hasina’s flight might allow her to evade consequences for her government’s actions.
Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and now leader of an interim administration, stated, “His passing represents an irreplaceable loss to the nation’s political and democratic sphere,” referring to the impact of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death on the movement.
The violence and unrest are only getting worse. This unrest has led to the death threats and vandalism at media offices, including Prothom Alo, Bangladesh’s largest daily newspaper, and English-language Daily Star. These attacks demonstrate that the divide within our communities is deepening. We know how frustrated you all are with how the media is covering this crisis.
The Future of Bangladesh’s Leadership
As Bangladesh continues to contend with this tumult, Muhammad Yunus’ place and role as a leader comes increasingly into question. Yunus’s administration will face some serious tests. It is deeply engaged in efforts to stabilize a country ruptured by recent widespread protests and political strife.
Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure as prime minister had been marked by significant economic growth but by accusations of human rights abuses and suppression of dissent. Her ouster marks a perilous juncture for Bangladesh’s political scene. It has left citizens at daggers drawn with one another and unsure how to proceed into the future.
