Usually impervious to political dynamics that may power democratic regimes to bend to well-liked will, dictatorships can seem rock-solid, making change appear unimaginable. Such was the case of Bangladesh underneath long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who since returning to energy in 2009 had overseen a gradual however thorough dismantling of the nation’s democratic establishments. Hasina’s ruling Awami League, or AL, had so violently quashed its political opposition and consolidated management over the judiciary, media and safety buildings that in January 2024, even with well-liked discontent rising over corruption and the economic system, it simply received its fourth consecutive election. With no credible menace to the social gathering’s grip on energy, many analysts anticipated additional democratic backsliding within the aftermath of the vote.
Nevertheless, in early June 2024, scholar protests towards the so-called Quota Legislation, which reserved public sector jobs for a spread of demographic teams, began rising in measurement and depth. Because the protests grew, Hasina was defiant. She hadn’t held energy for 16 years by taking probabilities with Bangladeshi college students, who, as latest historical past has proven, don’t come to the streets to play. In mid-July, she imposed a curfew and shut down the web all through the nation for nearly per week, repeating the measures once more later within the month. In an try and quell the rising demonstrations, police turned more and more violent, beating protesters and utilizing dwell ammunition towards them, killing a whole bunch. In response to the violence, nevertheless, the protests solely grew and broadened.
In early August, Hasina performed her remaining card, asking the military to crack down on the demonstrations. The military refused. On Aug. 5, protesters breached the prime minister’s residential compound. Hasina and her sister jumped on a helicopter, destined for sanctuary in India. She resigned later that day.