Bangladesh Struggles One Year After Uprising

One year after mass protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out of office, Bangladesh remains mired in political instability, rising religious tensions, and a fractured democracy. Hasina, who led the country for 15 years, was ousted on August 5, 2024, following a student-led uprising. She fled to India, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to head a transitional government with promises of reform and credible elections. Political Unrest and Deep Divisions The students who led the uprising formed a new political party aimed at ending the dominance of dynastic politics by Hasina’s Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). However, the new party is now accused of aligning too closely with Yunus and using state institutions to gain influence. Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami, a powerful Islamist party banned for over a decade, has returned to the political scene and aligned with the student-led group. Its influence is growing amid the vacuum left by the banned Awami League. Hasina is now facing trial for crimes against humanity. The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are clashing over control of key institutions and disagree on when elections should be held. Yunus proposes elections in April 2026, but the military prefers December 2025, and BNP wants an earlier date. Push for Reforms Before Elections Yunus has insisted that electoral, constitutional, and judicial reforms are necessary before holding elections. These include: Term limits for the Prime Minister A two-tier parliamentary system A new process to appoint the Chief Justice However, there’s little agreement among parties. Jamaat-e-Islami supports delaying elections for reforms, while BNP is pushing for quicker polls. The student party largely sides with Jamaat-e-Islami. Human Rights Under Scrutiny Rights groups have criticized the interim government for failing to protect minority communities, particularly Hindus, amid rising attacks. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported hundreds of assaults over the past year. While enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have declined under Yunus, lasting reforms to the police and judiciary remain unfinished. Human Rights Watch noted the lack of progress in establishing strong, independent institutions. Islamist factions are gaining ground and pushing for Sharia law and changes to women’s rights, deepening fears of increasing religious conservatism in politics. India and China: Shifting Alliances Under Hasina, Bangladesh maintained strong ties with India, but the relationship has deteriorated. Since her ouster, Yunus has pivoted toward China, visiting Beijing in March and securing new investments and grants. India, angered by Hasina’s removal, has refused her extradition and stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis. Meanwhile, Yunus enjoys support from the West and the United Nations, but relations with the United States have cooled. In January 2025, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, viewing its engagement through a primarily commercial lens. Outlook Analysts warn that without a public mandate, Yunus’ government faces difficulty in meeting the demands of reform and stability. The promise of a new era is faltering, as Bangladesh grapples with a divided political landscape and uncertain democratic future.