Typically impervious to political dynamics that can force democratic regimes to bend to popular will, dictatorships can appear rock-solid, making change seem unimaginable. Such was the case of Bangladesh under long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who since returning to power in 2009 had overseen a gradual but thorough dismantling of the country’s democratic institutions. Hasina’s ruling Awami League, or AL, had so violently quashed its political opposition and consolidated control over the judiciary, media and security structures that in January 2024, even with popular discontent growing over corruption and the economy, it easily won its fourth consecutive election. With no credible threat to the party’s grip on power, many analysts expected further democratic backsliding in the aftermath of the vote.
However, in early June 2024, student protests against the so-called Quota Law, which reserved public sector jobs for a range of demographic groups, started growing in size and intensity. As the protests grew, Hasina was defiant. She hadn’t held power for 16 years by taking chances with Bangladeshi students, who, as recent history has shown, do not come to the streets to play. In mid-July, she imposed a curfew and shut down the internet throughout the country for almost a week, repeating the measures again later in the month. In an attempt to quell the growing demonstrations, police became increasingly violent, beating protesters and using live ammunition against them, killing hundreds. In response to the violence, however, the protests only grew and broadened.
In early August, Hasina played her final card, asking the army to crack down on the demonstrations. The army 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.