“To many Bangladeshis, the visual of Hasina fleeing the country was emblematic of her fall from grace—once the most powerful woman in South Asia, she now became a leader in exile”
(This is Part II of the Special Report for Kashmir Times in three parts. Patrons can read Part I)
Shome Basu* in Dhaka, Bangladesh
After nearly fifty years of independence, Bangladesh is witnessing what many have called a second revolution. But this time, the fight is not against a distant oppressor ruling from 2,000 miles away; it is a homegrown upheaval.
Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father Mujibur Rahman, who had been at the helm for 15 years in her third term as Prime Minister, was ousted in a popular revolt in August.
Hasina’s rule, once credited with economic growth and infrastructure development, had increasingly been seen as authoritarian. For many, this August marked a turning point – Bangladesh is once again seeking freedom, this time from within.
The fall of Hasina is laden with irony. Her father, Mujibur Rahman, led the nation to independence in 1971, breaking free from Pakistan’s oppressive rule.
But just as Pakistan was forced out then, Hasina has now been forced out of power, accused of leading a government that trampled on democratic freedoms. It is a dramatic reversal for the family that shaped the country’s political destiny for decades.
In Dhaka, the signs of revolution are unmistakable. Streets that once bustled with daily life now serve as battlegrounds of graffiti and protest. People gather in front of Soviet-era BTR80 armoured vehicles, taking selfies with tired soldiers, as the army is seen as the protector of the people in this moment of transition.
“The army saved us from Hasina’s police,” says one pedestrian, reflecting the widespread belief that the military is the only force capable of preventing more bloodshed. “You won’t see the ‘chandabaaz’ (extortionists) anymore because they are afraid the army will finish them off.”
While Hasina had long wielded political power in Bangladesh, she had also carefully constructed a cult of personality around her father, Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman. His face adorns currency notes, government offices, and murals across the country. Yet, the reverence for Mujib is beginning to crumble.
In Dhaka’s Bijoy Sarani, a massive mural of Mujib called “Mritunjay,” inaugurated by Hasina last November, was demolished by protesters, who saw the artwork as a symbol of the oppressive regime they were fighting to overthrow.
Now, all that remains of the mural is its concrete base, with iron rods sticking out, a haunting reminder of the fall of a dynasty.
Hasina’s Escape
Perhaps the most symbolic moment of the revolution came when Hasina fled from Dhaka’s Old Airport, a military base, in a helicopter, an image that was broadcast across the country. The former Prime Minister sought refuge in India, landing at Hindon Air Force Base near New Delhi. To many Bangladeshis, the visual of Hasina fleeing the country was emblematic of her fall from grace – once the most powerful woman in South Asia, she now became a leader in exile.
Hasina’s supporters, however, point to her legacy of economic growth and infrastructure development, particularly the construction of the Dhaka Metro. The Metro, which runs overhead across the city, has made commuting easier for thousands of students and workers.
“The Metro has indeed improved our lives,” said one Dhaka University student, “but at what cost? Hasina and her police force took away our freedom. We felt like we were living under Hitler’s Gestapo.” The benefits of infrastructure projects like the Metro were overshadowed by a government that had grown increasingly repressive, silencing dissent and imprisoning critics.
The protests in Dhaka are not confined to just the streets. Throughout the city, graffiti covers walls and public spaces, with one consistent message: “Killer Hasina.” The sentiment is clear, and the anger palpable.
It is hard to imagine that just a few months ago, Sheikh Hasina was attending the swearing-in ceremony of her Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the most senior political leader in South Asia. The speed of her political downfall has been nothing short of remarkable.
Dhaka itself is a city of contrasts. On one hand, the roads are filled with outdated BRTC double-decker buses, jostling for space with modern cars from Japan and China. Rickshaws, the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transport, still dominate the streets.
But in the upscale areas of Dhaka, the old government buses are missing, replaced by sleek, branded carriers like Dhaka Chaka and Gulshan Chaka. These air-conditioned buses charge three times the usual fare, a sign of the growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class.
The shift away from government buses was precipitated by the 2016 terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery, which was linked to ISIS. Since then, government buses have been banned from certain parts of the city, with private transport companies stepping in, much to the dismay of ordinary commuters.
The political unrest in Bangladesh has also created an atmosphere of fear for atheists and liberals, who feel increasingly unsafe. A Dhaka-based journalist, who asked not to be named, explained that with the rise of Islamist groups like the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), liberal voices are being targeted more frequently.
“Atheists and liberals are the real minorities here,” he said. “Hindus still have a voice, but people like us are attacked for our views. And now, with groups like Jammat-e-Islami gaining influence, we’re heading back to a dark age.”
Uncertain Future
Yet even amidst the political upheaval, there is still hope for a brighter future. Protest graffiti around Dhaka is often paired with messages of pluralism and secularism. The city’s youth are calling for a ‘new Bangladesh,’ one that transcends religious and political divides.
But the future is uncertain. While some see the revolution as a step forward, others fear that the country is descending into chaos.
Many students, wearing bandanas emblazoned with the national emblem, have taken to the streets, threatening anyone who they believe is not on their side.
In one striking image, Sheikh Hasina’s portrait on a metro pillar near the Raju Bhaskar memorial was defaced and garlanded with shoes and a broom. Hasina’s smiling face now stands as a grim reminder of a leader, whose future is far from certain.
The question on everyone’s mind is: Where does Bangladesh go from here? Since its formation in 1971, the country has struggled with its identity, caught between the legacy of the Mukti Yoddhas (freedom fighters), who fought for independence, and the Razakars (collaborators with Pakistan), who resisted it. Today, that identity crisis is as pronounced as ever.
For many Bangladeshis, the role of foreign powers in the country’s current predicament is undeniable. Awami League supporters, in particular, suspect that the United States played a role in Hasina’s downfall.
Some see this as revenge for 1971 when the US supported Pakistan during the war of independence. Others are more concerned about Pakistan’s growing influence in the new government, with many fearing that India, once a close ally, is now seen as an adversary.
The relationship between Bangladesh and India has always been complicated, but recent events have added new layers of tension.
Dhaka’s long and storied history adds another dimension to the current unrest. The city, once known as Dacca under British rule and Jahangirnagar under the Mughals has always been a key trading port.
Situated on the Buriganga River, Dhaka was a melting pot of East-West trade, shaped by Turkic invaders, Mughal rulers, and Sufi saints like Shah Jalal, who brought Islam to the region. The city’s identity has been shaped by centuries of religious and cultural exchangers, a legacy that is now being threatened by the rise of extremism.
One of Dhaka’s most significant landmarks, the Dhakeshwari Temple, stands as a symbol of the Hindu minority’s enduring presence in Bangladesh. Despite being attacked during the 2021 Durga Puja celebrations, the temple continues to hold its place as the spiritual heart of Bangladesh’s Hindu community.
Basudev Dhar, a septuagenarian, who leads the apex body for Durga Puja celebrations, believes that the attack on the temple was more politically motivated than religiously charged. “The problems Hindus face here are more about economics than religion,” Dhar explains. “Many Hindus are pressured into selling their land for less than its worth, a problem that has persisted since the days of the Awami League.”
Indeed, land grabbing and extortion have been common issues in Bangladesh for years, affecting not just Hindus, but Muslims and other minority groups as well.
During Hasina’s tenure, these problems only worsened, with allegations of corruption and nepotism tainting her administration. Yet, despite these issues, many Awami League supporters, both Hindu and Muslim, are now facing persecution for their political allegiance.
The fall of Sheikh Hasina has left the Hindu community feeling vulnerable. Temples in Rangpur and other parts of the country have been attacked, and many Hindus who supported the Awami League have become targets for violence.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Jammat-e-Islami cadres, often associated with fundamentalism, stepped in to protect the Dhakeshwari Temple from further damage.
As Bangladesh prepares for the upcoming Durga Puja, many Hindus are reflecting on their place in a rapidly changing country. The Durga Puja celebrations, which culminate in the immersion of the goddess’s idol, are a time of great religious and cultural significance for the Hindu community. Yet, this year’s celebrations will take place under the shadow of political uncertainty and social unrest.
For many, the future of Bangladesh remains unclear. Will the revolution lead to a more pluralistic, secular society, or will the country fall into the grip of fundamentalist forces? As the graffiti around Dhaka suggests, the people are divided. But amidst the uncertainty, one sentiment endures the hope for a better, more inclusive Bangladesh.
*Shome Basu is a New Delhi-based journalist specialising in conflict and politics. He is also the author of the book “Shades of Kashmir,” which explores the region’s insurgency years.
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The post Bangladesh’s Second Revolution: Ousting of Sheikh Hasina and Road to Uncertainty first appeared on Kashmir Times (Since 1954): Multi-media web news platform..
The post Bangladesh’s Second Revolution: Ousting of Sheikh Hasina and Road to Uncertainty appeared first on Kashmir Times (Since 1954): Multi-media web news platform..