Sheikh Hasina Government Collapses Following Mass Student Uprising

Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister on August 5, 2024, after a mass uprising led by students forced the collapse of her government. The movement originated from disputes over public-service recruitment quotas but expanded into a broader revolt fueled by inflation, unemployment, corruption, and state violence.

Although the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruled to reform the quotas, the government attempted to suppress the movement through internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and the deployment of security forces. A United Nations fact-finding enquiry later determined there were reasonable grounds to believe the former government and its security apparatus systematically committed serious human-rights violations during the unrest.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party subsequently formed a new government. However, the new administration faces early criticism regarding its appointment process, with detractors suggesting a return to partisan patronage instead of professional merit.