Who is Sheikh Hasina?

Sheikh Hasina is a leading Bangladeshi politician who has been Prime Minister for an unprecedented 15 years, making her the longest-serving leader in Bangladesh’s history and the longest-serving female head of state worldwide.

As the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, known as the “Father of the Nation” for his crucial role in Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, Hasina comes from a significant political lineage. Rahman, who was Bangladesh’s first president, was assassinated along with his family in a 1975 military coup.

After her father’s death, Hasina and her sister spent several years in exile in India. Upon returning to Bangladesh, she took leadership of the Awami League party. Hasina first became Prime Minister in June 1996, serving until 2001. She returned to power in 2009 and has won every election since, including a contentious win in January that secured her another five-year term.

Her leadership has been controversial, with allegations of election manipulation and authoritarian behavior. Critics accuse Hasina of undermining democratic norms, including the arrest of political opponents to maintain her grip on power. The recent election saw widespread arrests of opposition leaders and supporters, raising significant concerns about the state of democracy in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Protests : What’s the reason behind the protest in Bangladesh?

Violent clashes between citizens and security forces have swept across Bangladesh in recent weeks, resulting in hundreds of deaths on both sides. The unrest began with student protests against a government policy that reserves a portion of public sector jobs for the families of those who participated in the 1971 independence war.

This 30 percent job quota for “freedom fighters” and their relatives was abolished in 2018 after violent demonstrations. However, in June, a Bangladeshi court reinstated the policy at the request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Government jobs are highly desirable in Bangladesh, seen as a route to financial security. Initially peaceful, the protests were met with what Amnesty International has condemned as “unlawful and sometimes lethal force,” a charge that the Hasina government disputes.

The demonstrations have grown into a broad-based opposition movement against Hasina, who is criticized for increasing authoritarianism. Violence has escalated, with reports indicating at least 57 deaths over the weekend, though some local sources suggest the toll could be close to 100.

In response, the government has imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday, which protesters have ignored. Hasina has denounced the protesters as “terrorists,” and massive demonstrations have continued in major cities, resulting in significant property damage and ongoing chaos.

Reasons For Sheikh’s Hasina Resignation –

The student protests have exposed significant issues within Bangladesh’s governance and economy, notably the high unemployment rate affecting 32 million young people. The protests initially focused on job creation but escalated due to the harsh response from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who called the protesters “terrorists” and ordered police to use force.

Student Alam Rashid criticized the government for not engaging in dialogue and instead using violence. Over the weekend, violence spread, including attacks on government buildings and Awami League offices, resulting in at least 95 deaths.

In response to the escalating conflict, student leaders from Dhaka University organized a “March to Dhaka” for Monday, calling it the “final answer” after the military warned of severe actions against those breaking the curfew.