A year after Sheikh Hasina’s fall, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. Despite progress under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s interim leadership, the country still wrestles with its authoritarian past marked by arbitrary arrests, violent crackdowns, and democratic uncertainty. Can Bangladesh truly transition to a free, fair, and inclusive political future?
When mass protests erupted across Bangladesh in mid-2024, few could have foreseen the rapid collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing regime. The ousting of the Prime Minister that August, following years of repression and unrest, was hailed as a potential democratic reset. Yet today, the pressing question remains: Is Bangladesh genuinely shifting toward democracy, or simply trading one form of authoritarianism for another?
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has made noteworthy strides releasing political prisoners, introducing constitutional reforms, signing global human rights treaties, and initiating efforts for justice and accountability. However, these gains are overshadowed by ongoing abuses, political exclusion, and economic instability. Whether Bangladesh can shed its autocratic past remains uncertain.
From Ballot Rigging to Street Revolution
Bangladesh’s current democratic crisis traces back to the disputed January 7, 2024 general election, which extended the Awami League’s (AL) rule for a fourth consecutive term. Widespread allegations of fraud led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to boycott the polls, protesting the government’s refusal to restore a neutral caretaker system.
The regime responded with sweeping repression. Thousands of activists were jailed, opposition voices silenced through a politicized judiciary, and civil society including journalists and rights defenders faced targeted violence and harassment. The state even staged fake opposition candidates to simulate democratic competition, triggering a collapse in voter turnout and public trust.
On October 28, 2023, during a major anti-government protest in Dhaka, police unleashed rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades. The crackdown left at least 16 people dead and thousands injured or detained.
Brutality, Protest, and a Government’s Fall
The unrest deepened in June 2024, when student protests exploded over a controversial quota policy for public sector jobs. What began as resistance to the quota system quickly evolved into a larger uprising against corruption, inequality, and unchecked state power.
The regime’s response was shockingly violent. A UN fact-finding mission reported that between July and August, security forces killed up to 1,400 civilians including children often at point-blank range. Injured protesters were denied medical care and hospital staff were intimidated. The military, ultimately unwilling to support further violence, withdrew, pressuring Hasina to resign and flee the country.
Progress in the Shadows
The Yunus-led interim government prioritized institutional reforms, accountability for past crimes, and electoral fairness. In its first months, it released prisoners, joined key international treaties, and created a commission to investigate enforced disappearances.
This commission uncovered over 1,700 complaints of state-sanctioned abductions targeting activists, with direct involvement by top officials including Hasina. In October, the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 44 others. However, critics flagged the tribunal’s legitimacy due to its controversial use of the death penalty.
Constitutional reform is underway, aiming to establish a bicameral parliament and term limits. Yet, key opposition groups, especially the BNP remain excluded, undermining the process’s credibility.
Tensions spiked when opposition leaders demanded elections by end-2025, accusing the interim government of stalling. The military echoed these calls. After student protests erupted over the delay, authorities finally announced new elections for April 2026.
AL Banned, But Economic Storm Clouds Gather
In a major escalation, the government banned all AL activities under anti-terror laws in May and suspended its party registration effectively disqualifying it from future elections and reshaping the political landscape.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s economic fragility persists. The country continues to reel from 2024’s catastrophic floods and mounting debt from non-performing loans. Inflation is rampant, and IMF-imposed austerity measures have sparked fresh waves of protest.
Repression Persists Under New Rule
Despite promises of reform, authoritarian practices endure. Human rights watchdogs continue to report arbitrary arrests, due process violations, and limited accountability. In just two months of 2025, over 1,000 politically motivated police cases were filed mostly targeting AL supporters. February saw over 1,300 additional arrests.
Freedom of the press remains under siege. In November, the government revoked accreditation for 167 journalists, 140 of whom were linked to the former regime. Dozens were charged with serious crimes, forcing many underground. Media outlets face vandalism and escalating censorship.
The new Cyber Protection Ordinance has also drawn criticism. Rights groups warn its vague definitions of defamation and “religious offense” could be used to suppress dissent in the lead-up to the next elections.
Democracy’s Cliffhanger
Bangladesh’s democratic experiment remains fraught. Despite encouraging reforms, the path ahead is uncertain. The upcoming general election will test whether the country can bury its authoritarian legacy or fall back into repression. Much now depends on the commitment of political leaders, civil society, and the public to build a transparent, inclusive, and accountable democracy.
