Her departure is a landmark moment, but one that has left the South Asian nation facing a 鈥 for the time being, at least 鈥 has stepped.
To understand what led to the crisis and what could happen next, The Conversation turned to Tazreena Sajjad, an expert on Bangladeshi politics at 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 School of International Service.
What sparked the demonstrations in Bangladesh?
The protests stem from long-running resentment over a quota system that saw in Bangladesh reserved for various groups, including 30% for the descendants of freedom fighters who fought in the .
This quota system has proved an enormous barrier to highly coveted civil service positions for the country鈥檚 large youth population, .
It had also become a subject of controversy due to how many of those quota jobs went to supporters of the ruling Awami League party.
Under immense pressure from an earlier , Hasina abolished the entire quota system in 2018.
But in June 2024, the country鈥檚 , sparking a fresh round of protests across the country.
Then, in July, Bangladesh鈥檚 public universities saw a series of walkouts by faculty and students over new pension reforms that, if implemented, would .
Initially, the protests were peaceful, but an 鈥 in which she ,鈥 a term used to identify pro-Pakistan collaborators during Bangladesh鈥檚 War of Independence 鈥 inflamed tensions.
The Bangladesh Chhatra League 鈥 the armed wing of the Awami League 鈥 began with tear gas and live bullets, with support from the police. The Rapid Action Battalion, a with a , was also deployed.
After a video of one of the first to be killed 鈥 a university student named 鈥 circulated online, more joined the protests, leading to a further violent crackdown by police and armed groups.
It is estimated that about , were killed in the protests, including at least .
The government closed schools and universities, imposed a curfew and cut internet and telecommunications. Meanwhile, student leaders were to withdraw their .
But this only led to the and a of protesters demanding Hasina鈥檚 immediate resignation.
As thousands of protesters gathered for a in defiance of the curfew, the prime minister resigned and left the country.
Is there a wider context to the political unrest?
Absolutely. While attention has focused largely on the quota protests, a litany of grievances had piled up against the government.
Under Hasina鈥檚 rule, Bangladesh has seen GDP growth 鈥 but this has not translated into economic well-being for many Bangladeshis. Lack of and have been ongoing sources of tension.
Meanwhile, despite the Awami League espousing a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, , and nepotism scandals have .
And since its landslide victory in 2008, the Awami League has eroded the country鈥檚 democracy. For example, in 2011 the government that allowed a 90-day caretaker administration, consisting of technocrats, to organize elections and oversee transfers of power.
Suppression of dissent has also grown. The of activists, opposition figures and human rights defenders have become more frequent. Meanwhile, there has been criminalization of , including and .
Why is the 1971 war still relevant to Bangladeshi politics?
The War of Independence remains central to Bangladesh鈥檚 identity and its politics.
Its seeds were sown decades earlier in the 1947 . This resulted in the violent division of the state of Bengal, with the eastern part becoming East Pakistan.
After partition, West Pakistan over East Pakistan, while at the same time attempting to cultivate a singular national identity 鈥 based on their common Muslim majority populations 鈥 despite separate cultures and linguistic heritages.
Policies to marginalize Bengali 鈥 the vernacular of 56% of then East Pakistanis 鈥 and 鈥減urify鈥 East Pakistan from Hindu influence contributed to a backlash that saw widespread student protests and growing calls for independence.
In 1971, a West Pakistani military incursion aimed at snuffing out pro-independence sentiments resulted in a with East Pakistan that lasted nine months and resulted in the deaths of .
The circumstances of that war have shaped Bangladesh鈥檚 politics ever since. The parties that have dominated the country鈥檚 politics, including Hasina鈥檚 Awami League, frequently politicized their . Political leaders have also used 1971 as a means of legitimizing positions, shoring up support, or delegitimizing opposition parties.
Does Hasina鈥檚 exit mark the end of Bangladesh鈥檚 political dynasties?
The resignation of Hasina signals 鈥 at least for the time being 鈥 the end of Awami League rule in Bangladesh.
Countries in South Asia, including Bangladesh, have largely been shaped by . So the rejection of the Awami League, and the fact that many are also rejecting other established political parties 鈥 the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and the Jatiya Party 鈥 is extraordinary.
These established parties will no doubt try to regroup. While the Awami League may not be able to effectively organize in the near future given public sentiment, the others will make a concerted effort to participate in the promised forthcoming elections.
For the moment, there may be an opportunity for Bangladesh to have fresh voices and faces in politics, potentially emerging from the student movement.
What should we make of the military taking interim control?
Since Bangladesh鈥檚 independence, the army has played a huge role in shaping the political trajectory of the country.
From 1975 to 2011, Bangladesh experienced . It also experienced from 1977 to 1981 and between 1981 and 1990.
Given the army鈥檚 frequent incursion into Bangladesh politics, it is not surprising that it has taken of the country now.
For many Bangladeshis, this may represent some level of stability, given the political vacuum that has opened up and the uncertainty of the moment.
Student leaders, however, have made it clear they do not want military involvement in politics. Seemingly heeding this call, , the army chief of staff, has assured protesters that the army would meet their demands.
But it remains to be seen whether the military will keep its promises and hand over full authority to a civilian interim administration.
What could happen next?
It is too early to speculate what the future holds for Bangladesh 鈥 the situation is extremely fluid and unfolding by the minute.
The abrupt departure of Hasina has been a cause of relief and celebration among the millions of protesters who helped bring about an end to her rule.
Protest leaders have expressed a clear vision for an inclusive, corruption-free, democratic government. What they don鈥檛 want is an interim government that is formed without their involvement and input. Student leaders have put together a list of candidates they want to see in the interim government. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has . Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-i-Islami leaders are vying for positions in the interim government.
But political transitions are extremely challenging and volatile. There have been incidences of around the country, as well as .
Armed wings of the Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami and the Bangladesh Chhatra League are , which, it is alleged, is carried out to delegitimize the protest movement. In response, students and the general public have stepped in to .
Rumors and will certainly have some significant impact in a volatile situation.
Meanwhile, the enormous by the political turmoil and military curfew will also require attention.
Neighboring countries, particularly India, are paying a lot of attention to the volatile situation. International donors and strategic partners including the U.S., EU, and China likewise await what comes next, given Bangladesh鈥檚 regional geopolitics and the global economy.
, Senior Professorial Lecturer of Global Governance, Politics and Security,
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