Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5, 2024, following weeks of intense protests and escalating violence across Bangladesh. The resignation follows a violent and turbulent period that has seen over 500 people killed and thousands more injured. The protests, initially sparked by the reinstatement of a job quota for descendants of 1971 independence war veterans, grew into a broader movement against government corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights abuses.
The unrest began in early July, with students protesting the political patronage associated with the job quota, which they criticized as favoring supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party. The situation turned violent on July 15, when security forces and the Chhatra League, the AL’s student wing, clashed with protesters. The violence sparked widespread outrage and brought thousands of citizens into the streets, demanding accountability from the government.
Despite the government’s crackdown, which included army deployments, curfews, and internet shutdowns, the protests gained momentum. Human rights groups reported extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests, with more than 10,000 people detained. The government’s actions, along with continued violence and repression, led to further public discontent.
On August 4, protests swelled as tens of thousands of demonstrators called for Hasina’s resignation. In response, Hasina urged her supporters to “curb anarchists with iron hands,” leading to deadly clashes between opposition protesters and AL supporters. As violence escalated, the military intervened, and on August 5, army chief announced Hasina’s resignation, marking the culmination of a months-long political crisis.
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