The comment analyses Bangladesh’s political transition following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024 and the rise of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. It critiques democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, Islamist resurgence, economic fragility, and strained regional ties, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive governance and credible elections.
- Sheikh Hasina’s government fell after mass protests in August 2024.
- Muhammad Yunus leads the interim government with a “reform-first, elections-later” approach, raising constitutional concerns. Elections delayed beyond the 90-day constitutional mandate.
- Bangladesh ranked 127/142 in the WJP Rule of Law Index for two consecutive years.
- Gains in infrastructure and social indicators under Hasina offset by corruption and authoritarianism.
- Continued arbitrary arrests and custodial deaths of former regime members.
- Rise in attacks on religious minorities, especially Hindus. Hefazat-e-Islam and Hizb ut-Tahrir gaining influence, pushing for Islamic statehood and conservative reforms.
- GDP growth downgraded to 3.3% (World Bank) and 3.8% (IMF). Garment industry collapse triggers labour unrest and gendered vulnerabilities.
- Myanmar conflict disrupts proposed humanitarian corridor from Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh Army warns of security risks.
- India concerned over minority rights and warming Bangladesh–Pakistan ties.
- Need of the hour: timely elections, institutional reform, and regional diplomacy.
- Emphasizes the need to uphold democratic norms and human rights.
On 5 August 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a political watershed in its post-independence history with the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. What began as an anti-quota student protest snowballed into a nationwide movement demanding regime change, marking a historic shift after one and half a decade of uninterrupted rule of the Awami League. Since then, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as its chief advisor.
However, after a year into what many termed “Bangladesh 2.0,” concerns over democratic backsliding have not only persisted but grown due to no definite timeline for conducting free and fair elections. Although Article 123(3)(b) of the Constitution mandates elections within 90 days of parliamentary dissolution, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s “reform-first, elections-later” roadmap remains at odds with constitutional expectations.
Bangladesh, having fought for independence from Pakistan in 1971 and democracy in the 1990s, still finds the promise of genuine democratic governance elusive. This is instructive given that the country’s democracy, something which is widely accepted as a safeguard for human rights, remains faltering, with Bangladesh being ranked127 out of 142 states by the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index for two consecutive years.
Human Rights Violations under Hasina’s Government:
During the 16-year rule of the Awami League under Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh achieved significant gains in infrastructural development, economic growth and women’s empowerment, besides improved social indicators marked by access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Projects like the Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and the metro rail became symbols of progress and transformative Bangladesh, which emerged as the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments. Yet, these developments were marred by cost overruns, alleged corruption, financial mismanagement, and ballooning external debt, which are now estimated at Tk 18.35 trillion, or over Tk 100,000 per citizen.
Democratic erosion underpinned much of this governance model, with concerns over authoritarianism, especially during the last few years of Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Having assumed power in 2009, after two years of democratic uncertainty, her 2011 annulment of the caretaker government provision through the 13th Constitutional Amendment was seen as an enabler for her successive electoral victories (2014, 2018, 2024) amid allegations of voting fraud. Reports by organisations such as ‘Odhikar’ documented declining voter turnout and rising voter suppression.
The Hasina government was accused of weaponising legal instruments to stifle political dissent. One such has been the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, 2009, which later morphed into the Digital Security Act (2018) and subsequently the Cyber Security Act (2024). These laws allegedly curtailed free speech, media freedom, and digital rights, with journalists seen as aligned with the opposition, human rights defenders, and activists frequently being targeted.
Furthermore, the opposition parties complained that the government was employing extrajudicial tactics such as enforced disappearances, political violence, and custodial deaths to curtail civil rights. For instance, in its 2024 report, Odhikar reported that in 2023 alone, Bangladesh witnessed 24 extrajudicial killings, 106 politically motivated deaths, and 52 enforced disappearances.
‘Bangladesh 2.0’ dealings with Human Rights:
The July–August uprising that toppled Hasina’s government came at a human cost. According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, 834 people were killed, including 105 children, while security forces, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), allegedly used live ammunition on unarmed protesters. The government also enforced internet blackouts.
The interim government that was set up following the ouster of the Hasina government formed 11 commissions to reform state institutions. Among the most significant developments was the public unearthing of “Aynaghor”, a secret facility allegedly used for the torture and illegal detention of dissidents. Bangladesh has now acceded to the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances and formed a five-member inquiry commission. Though no new enforced disappearance cases have been reported as of March 2025, arbitrary arrests and custodial deaths of Awami League leaders associated with the previous government continue to raise concerns.
Moreover, the interim government promulgated a new Cyber Security Ordinance, but retains controversial provisions, including Sections 8, 25, 26 and 36 of the contentious Cyber Security Act, which allow for continued abuse by state security authorities. From August to December 2024, 33 cases of attacks on journalists were reported.
Rising Religious Intolerance and Islamist Mobilisation
One of the major concerns in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim majority state, has been the exponential surge in attacks on religious minorities since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina a year earlier. Multiple reports have alleged that the country’s Hindu population has faced land seizures, vandalism of homes and temples, and forced resignations from public institutions.
The situation has become worse with several Islamist groups gaining ground with state patronage. For instance, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (HIB) has become increasingly active across the country, reiterating its 2013 issued 13-point charter of demands, which, among other things, calls for a ban on public sculptures, mixed-gender spaces, and the declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslims. Its leader, Mufti Enayetullah Abbasi, whom many call Helicopter Huzur for his lavish use of helicopters for public lecturing across Bangladesh, has threatened armed revolution if demands remain unmet.
Not to be left behind, Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), which is a transnational Islamist group with the ultimate aim of establishing an Islamic state by capturing state institutions from within, has also mobilised its cadre across the country. The group organised a mass rally under the banner of “Conscious Teachers and Students,” demanding that Bangladesh be declared an Islamic State.
Economic Headwinds and Labour Discontent
Bangladesh’s economy remains fragile after the regime change, as the Yunus government has largely failed to deal with challenges effectively. The World Bank has downgraded the country’s FY25 growth forecast to 3.3 per cent , down from its 4.1 per cent, while the IMF projects 3.8 per cent growth.
The collapse of the garment industry, which was already under strained during Hasina’s rule, looks imminent with factory closures and delayed wages, prompting widespread labour unrest. Women, who form the backbone of this once vibrant economic sector, have borne the brunt of governmental mismanagement. The death of a female garment worker, Rokeya, during protests has become emblematic of the intersecting economic and gender-based vulnerabilities.
Humanitarian Pressures and External Fault Lines
Regional instability has further complicated the domestic picture of Bangladesh. This is true for the intensified armed conflict between Myanmar’s junta and rebel groups near the border. This has hindered the establishment of a proposed UN-supervised “humanitarian corridor” from Cox Bazar of Bangladesh, which hosts the biggest Rohingya refugee camp, to the Rakhine state of Myanmar. Pushed by Muhammad Yunus, this corridor with its aim of delivering aid to the civilian populations trapped in the civil war between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Army, has become contentious in Bangladesh, with Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-u-Zaman warning against such a move for its potential security risks for the country.
Additionally, the country’s relations with India have also remained strained over the last year. India has persistently called for upholding human rights and the protection of religious minorities, including Hindus, who have borne the brunt of Islamist resurgence, with hundreds of violent incidents against the community. India has also grown increasingly wary of the unexpected improvement in relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan under the interim government. It fears that such rapprochement could signal a strategic alignment that may pose long-term risks to its national security.
The Way Forward
Bangladesh stands at a crossroads, with persisting economic issues, a rising Islamist wave, continued internal security challenges, and shifting international alignments. With growing uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections, maintaining stability and ensuring effective governance becomes even more critical. Conducting a fair election is urgently required, and the future governance must prioritise regional diplomacy, economic stability, and institutional reform to prevent further erosion of democratic and humanitarian standards. As such, the future of “Bangladesh 2.0” depends not only on healing past wounds but on ensuring inclusive, equitable governance that upholds fundamental rights and democratic norms.
* Madhurima Pramanik is a Research Scholar at the Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. The views expressed are the author’s own.
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