Saqlain Rizve
On August 5, 2024, as the clock struck noon, news spread rapidly that Bangladesh Army General Waker-Uz-Zaman was set to address the nation. Across the country, people sensed the bloody mass uprising that had been raging for over a month was about to reach its climax. Many believed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year-long autocratic rule was finally coming to an end. Just moments later, Hasina resigned and fled the country, seeking refuge in India. By that time, protesters and ordinary citizens had already stormed state landmarks like the Prime Minister’s Office, Ganabhaban (the prime minister’s residence) and Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (the national parliament building).
engaging in widespread vandalism and destruction. Simultaneously, attacks on police stations broke out in Dhaka and across other regions. The protests that summer originally focused on a single limited issue: reforms to the quota system in government jobs. But the brutality shown by law enforcement during the protests – allegedly under Hasina’s direct orders – sparked unprecedented public outrage. According to United Nations estimates, around 1,400 people were killed, while thousands were injured during the protests. From late July through early August 2024, calls mounted for Hasina to resign.
This was not Bangladesh’s first mass uprising. Since its independence in 1971, the country has experienced frequent political upheavals. But this was the first time in history that a sitting prime minister was forced to flee.The last major uprising occurred in 1990, leading to the fall of military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad and a democratic transition. Within two decades, Bangladesh had made progress in consolidating democracy. However, in 2007-2008, another major disruption occurred known as the 1/11 period when an army-backed caretaker government took power.
Both Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Khaleda Zia were arrested, Zia’s son Tarique Rahman was exiled under a no-politics condition, and new political forces were introduced – but failed to gain traction. Hasina and her Awami League (AL) returned to power in 2008 through elections under the caretaker government, raising hopes for democratic revival. Yet, over time, Hasina’s government systematically suppressed opposition, the media, civil society, and state institutions. Through legal amendments and the abolition of the caretaker government system in 2011, the AL ensured its dominance of the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections.
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