Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of
Bangladesh, resigned on August 5, 2024, after widespread
protests led by students and other groups demanding her resignation. These
protests were sparked by a controversial Supreme Court decision to reinstate
quotas for government jobs, which had previously been abolished in 2018 due to
earlier protests. Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, fled to
India after her resignation. As per the reports, Sheikh Hasina will likely
remain in India until she gets asylum in the UK.
WHO IS SHEIKH HASINA?
Full Name: Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
Family Background: She is the daughter
of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of
Bangladesh, who was assassinated in 1975.
Political Career: Hasina is a prominent Bangladeshi politician and
the longest-serving Prime Minister in history.
She served from June 1996 to July 2001 and from January 2009 to August 2024.
Awami League: She became the leader of the Awami League, a major political party in Bangladesh, in 1981 and has been a significant figure in Bangladeshi politics ever since
PROTEST IN BANGLADESH
The protests erupted in mid-July 2024, primarily led by students across Bangladesh. The trigger was a Supreme Court decision to reinstate job quotas previously abolished in 2018 due to massive student protests. These quotas reserved more than half of the civil service jobs for specific groups, such as 30% for family members of veterans who fought in the 1971 liberation war.
Court Ruling: In July 2024, the Supreme Court advised cutting
the quotas, suggesting that 93% of all appointments be based on merit,
with 5% for descendants of freedom fighters and 2% for ethnic minorities or
people with disabilities. Although the government accepted this decision,
it failed to quell the growing dissatisfaction among the protesters.
WHO IS NAHID ISLAM?
Nahid Islam, who spearheaded the protest that
ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina after 15 straight years in power, is a
sociology student at Dhaka University. The 26-year-old was the coordinator of a
student movement against quotas in government jobs that turned into an ‘oust-Hasina’
campaign. Nahid, who’s married, rose to frame in July after police detained him
as protests turned deadly.
VIOLENCE AND CLASHES
The protests rapidly escalated into violent
clashes between the demonstrators and law enforcement. The
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Hasina's Awami League, was
also involved in suppressing the protests.
Casualties: The government's heavy-handed response led to
widespread violence, with over 300 reported deaths. The crackdown
included mass arrests, alleged torture, and extrajudicial killings. The
security forces were accused of storming hospitals to detain or harm
protesters.
Public Anger: The brutality of the response fueled public
anger and further galvanized the protests. The unrest spread beyond
student circles, drawing in a wider array of societal groups and turning
into a broad anti-government movement .
DEMAND FOR RESIGNATION
Initially focused on the quota issue, the
protests soon expanded to include demands for Sheikh Hasina's resignation
and the formation of a national government. The movement gained momentum as
various societal groups, including opposition parties, joined in.
Authoritarian Rule: The protesters criticized Hasina's
increasingly authoritarian rule, citing years of frustration with her government's
corruption, suppression of dissent, and failure to address economic
challenges. Her administration was accused of stifling free speech and
targeting political opponents.
RESIGNATION
On August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime
Minister and fled to India. Her departure marked the end of her 15-year
rule, during which she had become one of the most powerful leaders in
South Asia.
Hasina cited her inability to manage the escalating
violence and unrest as the primary reason for her resignation. Her
decision to step down was seen as a move to prevent further bloodshed and
potential military intervention.
Seeking Refuge in India: Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana,
sought refuge in India, where they had previously lived after the assassination
of their father in 1975. India's historical support for the Awami League and
strategic interests in Bangladesh likely influenced its decision to grant her
asylum.
INDIA’S RESPONSE
Centre held an all-party meeting in Parliament
on Tuesday to discuss Bangladesh's political crisis, with visuals surfacing
online. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed leaders of various
political parties on the situation and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul
Gandhi also attended the meeting. Sheikh Hasina flew to India on Monday
after quitting as Bangladesh PM.
Historical Context: Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana,
have a history of taking refuge in India. After the assassination of their
father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1975, they lived in India for several years.
This historical connection played a role in Hasina's decision to seek asylum in
India again after her resignation.
India's Role and Relations: India has historically supported the Awami
League and Sheikh Hasina due to their shared interests and strategic
partnerships. The Awami League, under Hasina’s leadership, has maintained
close ties with India, cooperating on various issues such as counter-terrorism,
trade, and regional security.
Strategic Interests: Bangladesh is a crucial ally for India in the region, and maintaining stability in Bangladesh aligns with India's geopolitical interests. By granting refuge to Hasina, India aims to ensure continued influence and maintain a stable relationship with any future government in Bangladesh
Political Considerations: Offering refuge to Hasina also allows
India to signal its support for democratic processes and the rule of law in
Bangladesh. India’s decision is seen as a move to safeguard its
interests and ensure that Bangladesh remains aligned with India’s strategic
goals in South Asia.
Implications for Bangladesh: Hasina’s departure to India might influence
future political developments in Bangladesh. Her presence in India could
allow her to continue exerting political influence, depending on how the
situation in Bangladesh unfolds.
INTERIM GOVERNMENT IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Army to form interim govt after PM Sheikh Hasina resigns. Bangladesh
Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman has announced that Sheikh Hasina has resigned as
the Prime Minister amid violent protests in the country. He told the media
that the Army will form an interim government and has appealed to the
protesters to return to the path of peace.
Sheikh Hasina's rival and former Bangladesh Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia, jailed since 2018 for corruption, has been released from
prison. Zia, the key opposition
leader who heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had been elected
thrice but could run governments only twice. Zia is the first woman prime
minister of Bangladesh.
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