Bangladesh is on the brink of a military takeover as protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intensify. The unrest, which began with student demands for quota reform in public sector jobs, has resulted in over 300 deaths and a climate of fear and uncertainty.
Sources in Dhaka, the capital, suggest that a temporary military administration may be imminent, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. Adding to the tension, sources at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi confirmed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and left the country, reportedly seeking refuge in India.
Here is a timeline of the events leading up to Sheikh Hasina’s resignation:
July 1, 2024: Blockades Begin
University students initiated blockades, disrupting roads and railway lines across the country. Their primary demand was for reforms in the quota system for public sector jobs, which they alleged favored loyalists of Hasina’s ruling Awami League. Having won a fifth term in January, Hasina dismissed the protests, stating students were “wasting their time.”
July 16, 2024: Violence Intensifies
Violence escalated as clashes between protesters and pro-government supporters in Dhaka resulted in the first recorded deaths of six people. In response, Hasina’s government closed schools and universities nationwide.
July 18, 2024: PM Hasina Rebuffed
Students rejected Hasina’s appeal for calm and continued to demand her resignation. Protesters chanted “down with the dictator,” and torched the headquarters of Bangladesh Television along with other government buildings. The government imposed an internet blackout in an attempt to curb the unrest. Clashes left at least 32 people dead and hundreds injured, despite a curfew and soldier deployment.
July 21, 2024: Supreme Court Verdict
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court ruled against reintroducing job quotas, a decision critics viewed as aligning with Hasina’s government. The verdict did not satisfy protesters’ demands to abolish job reservations for children of “freedom fighters” from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.
August 4, 2024: Army Sides with Protesters
Hundreds of thousands clashed with government supporters again, resulting in 68 deaths, including 14 police officers. Former Army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to withdraw troops and condemned the killings. Current Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated the armed forces “always stood by the people”.
August 5, 2024: Call for Final Protest
Leaders of the civil disobedience campaign called on supporters to march on Dhaka for a “final protest”. The escalating confrontation with the government led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the capital, Dhaka.
The situation in Bangladesh remains volatile, with the army’s stance uncertain and the possibility of a military takeover looming large. The future of the country hangs in the balance as the nation grapples with a crisis of leadership and a deeply divided population.
