Youth Uprising Leads to Dramatic Fall of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister

In a stunning turn of events, Bangladesh‘s long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled the country amid massive protests calling for her removal. The uprising, sparked by young college students, gained momentum quickly, demanding significant changes in the government, especially the removal of a highly criticized job quota system favoring political insiders.

The students, united under a movement they called Students Against Discrimination, organized themselves with impressive coordination. They planned marches and protests that drew hundreds of thousands into the streets, prompting Hasina to flee to India via helicopter as the crowd turned increasingly agitated.

Many of these young protesters had previously experienced government crackdowns during earlier protests in 2018, when they rallied against the dangerous state of the country’s transportation system. Back then, they faced severe violence from Hasina’s political militia. This experience, however, equipped them with the skills needed to organize protests and resist government suppression effectively.

Sheikh Hasina has experienced a turbulent political past herself. Following a coup that claimed her father’s life in 1975, she spent years in exile before returning to political prominence in the 1980s. Despite earlier struggles, Hasina had managed to maintain a grip on power since 2008, but her reputation has taken a massive hit following the recent violence and protests.

With Hasina now gone, an interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate, has taken charge. Yunus’s cabinet comprises respected figures, including notable student leaders from the recent protests, and they face a challenging road ahead as they seek to restore order and introduce reforms.

The newly appointed interim government is already under pressure to clean house, targeting the corrupt politicians and officials aligned with Hasina’s administration. This includes addressing the widespread allegations of human rights abuses during her rule, and determining how to navigate the country’s complex political landscape, which is still littered with remnants of Hasina’s influence.

India, once a supporter of Hasina’s government, is watching the developments closely with concerns over potential instability in Bangladesh. Local leaders have been working to reassure India that the situation is under control, but the new government has a delicate balancing act ahead, managing both domestic expectations and international relations.

As the interim government works to establish a new order, the demand for accountability for Hasina’s alleged crimes will likely linger. Questions about the future electoral landscape remain, with uncertainty about how the Awami League will participate in elections moving forward.