In brief
Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh, transitioned from a pro-democracy champion to a ruler accused of autocracy. Following a series of deadly protests in 2024 that led to mass casualties, Hasina fled to India and was subsequently convicted in absentia for crimes against humanity. Her legacy now stands in stark contrast to the economic progress she once heralded, overshadowed by allegations of human rights abuses and political oppression.
Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed began her political career as a pro-democracy icon, but fled mass protests against her rule in August 2024 after 15 years in power.
Since then, Hasina has been in self-imposed exile in India, where she fled after being deposed by a student-led uprising that spiraled into nationwide unrest.
On November 17, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity, linking her to a deadly crackdown on protesters between July and August 2024. Hasina has denied all charges, which included ordering a response that resulted in the deaths of up to 1,400 individuals according to UN reports.
This turmoil marked the worst bloodshed Bangladesh had witnessed since its independence in 1971.
The protests led to a dramatic conclusion of her over two-decade rule, during which her party, the Awami League, was credited with significant economic growth but also accused of becoming increasingly autocratic.
Amidst soaring protests demanding an end to her regime, Hasina's administration was marked by political repression, including arrests and deadly crackdowns on dissenters, further entrenching her controversial legacy.
Hasina's perceived turn from championing democracy to an autocratic figure demonstrates the complexity of her leadership and the turbulent political landscape of Bangladesh.
