Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, recently resigned from her position and fled the country after mounting tensions and threats of violence. This event has left Bangladesh grasping as it tries to function with deep divisions between groups with caution.
What is happening in Bangladesh? The situation stemmed from weeks-long protests against the quota system for government jobs, devolving into protests against Hasina’s 15-year-long reign. The protests, led by students, began peacefully but escalated after violent government crackdowns. With more than 300 people killed and thousands more imprisoned, protesters fought against Sheikh Hasina’s crumbling rule, and she lost the support of the national military. With few options left, the former prime minister fled to India, with a new, interim government as her replacement.
How did things get to this point? Bangladesh has a history of political instability since its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of former Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, remained in power for 15 years through false elections and expensive infrastructure projects. Though the projects initially led to economic growth, Bangladesh suffered, with increasing unemployment rates, political corruption, and inflation. This suffering caused thousands to protest in response to the reversal of a 2018 government decision, which leaves only 20% of jobs for merit-based candidates, worsening the state of employment.
What will happen now? Many fear that, with Sheikh Hasina residing in India, which is led by a Hindu nationalist party, minorities such as Hindus and other groups in Bangladesh will face backlash. Several attacks on family homes, buildings, temples, and stores owned or used by Hindus have taken place, and many fear for their lives. However, other sources claim that some accounts are supposedly false reports spread by far-right sources to stoke outrage at the “Hindu genocide” going on in Bangladesh. Hindus in Bangladesh have also historically been supporters of the Awami League, a Bangladeshi political party that backed Sheikh Hasina. For this reason, some experts are unsure of whether the attacks are religiously or politically motivated.
Works Cited
“Bangladesh: Interim Government Must Take Immediate Actions to Protect Hindu and Other Minority Communities.” Amnesty International, 14 Aug. 2024, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/bangladesh-interim-government-must-take-immediate-actions-to-protect-hindu-and-other-minority-communities/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Chotiner, Isaac. “The Historical Forces behind the Student Rebellion in Bangladesh.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2024, www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-historical-forces-behind-the-student-rebellion-in-bangladesh.
Dieterich, Carole. “Bangladesh’s Hindu Community Fears It Will Pay the Costs of the “Revolution.”” Le Monde.fr, Le Monde, 13 Aug. 2024, www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/08/13/in-bangladesh-the-hindu-community-fears-it-will-pay-the-costs-of-the-revolution_6714809_4.html.
Ganguly, Sudipto. “Why Did Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Resign and Where Is She Now?” Reuters, 6 Aug. 2024, www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/why-did-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-resign-where-is-she-now-2024-08-06/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Wakefield, Jacqui. “Far-Right Spreads False Claims about Muslim Attacks in Bangladesh.” Bbc.com, BBC News, 17 Aug. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2n8pzk7gzo.“Youth in Charge in Bangladesh : State of the World from NPR.” NPR, 15 Aug. 2024, www.npr.org/2024/08/15/1196982966/youth-in-charge-in-bangladesh. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.