Bangladesh Cheers, But Challenges Loom After Hasina

Jubilant Streets, Uncertain Future: Bangladesh One Year After Hasina’s Fall The capital, Dhaka, was alive with celebration this week as thousands marked the first anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic departure from Bangladesh. In pouring rain, interim leader Muhammad Yunus stood alongside political party leaders and activists to unveil plans for a “New Bangladesh.” Across the country, concerts, rallies, and special prayers brought people together, with many calling the occasion the “second liberation” of this Muslim-majority nation of 170 million. Yet beneath the jubilation lies a more complex reality. Over the past year, rights groups have documented lynchings, mob violence, revenge attacks, and a resurgence of religious extremism—threats that could derail the country’s democratic aspirations. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina—now in exile in India—denies involvement in the deadly crackdowns that marked her final days in office, refusing to return and face charges amounting to crimes against humanity. A Revolution or Just a Regime Change? “I think we had a regime change, not a revolution. Misogyny remains intact, male dominance unchallenged,” says Shireen Huq, a women’s rights activist and former head of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission. Earlier this year, the commission recommended legal reforms, including inheritance equality for women, recognition of marital rape as a crime, and protections for sex workers. But Islamist hardliners, led by Hefazat-e-Islam—which has representation in the interim cabinet—staged mass protests, calling the proposals “anti-Islamic” and demanding the commission’s disbandment. No public debate followed. “I was disappointed the interim government did not stand by us when we faced abuse,” Huq says. Hardliners have also opposed girls’ football matches, targeted women in public over their attire, and vandalized minority religious shrines. Old Wounds, New Tensions Anger against Hasina’s Awami League remains strong, with accusations of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and suppression of dissent during her rule. Many citizens demand not just accountability, but vengeance. However, Awami League leaders claim their supporters are now the victims, citing hundreds of lynchings over the past year—allegations the interim government denies. Several journalists and party members have been jailed without what critics say is due process. Progress and Pitfalls Despite the unrest, the interim government is credited with stabilizing the economy. Foreign reserves remain at $30 billion, food prices have held steady, and exports have not collapsed. Some also say a more open political climate has emerged, allowing freer expression than in recent decades. Yet critics argue that the influence of student leaders—hailed as heroes of last year’s protests—has led to populist, even exclusionary, policies, including a temporary ban on the Awami League. Exiled Awami League figures say upcoming elections will lack credibility without their participation. Transparency International Bangladesh warns of a rise in mob violence and continued extrajudicial killings, urging an end to “authoritarian practices” if the vision of a truly new Bangladesh is to be realized. As Bangladesh stands at a crossroads, the next six months will test whether the sacrifices of the uprising will lead to genuine reform—or whether history will repeat itself.