Unfulfilled promises one year after the end of the Hasina government
5 August 2024 marked the end of 15 years of authoritarian rule by the Awami League. But one year after what is now called “Liberation Day”, promises of justice and inclusion remain largely unfulfilled. Tonight, Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus will read the July Declaration before Parliament.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Exactly one year after the fall of the authoritarian government led by Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh today celebrates the first anniversary of what many citizens have renamed ‘Liberation Day’.
On 5 August 2024, after weeks of student-led protests that were violently suppressed, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital, Dhaka, and across the country, waving flags and chanting slogans of freedom, while the prime minister fled by helicopter to India.
The demonstrations began as a protest against quotas in public competitions, but soon turned into a vast movement of opposition to the Awami League regime, accused of repression, arbitrary arrests and human rights violations.
The episode that sparked popular anger was the killing of student Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, followed by that of young Wasim, leader of Chhatra Dal (the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party), in Chittagong. Videos of the violence sparked a wave of collective outrage.
On 3 August, the movement rejected dialogue with the prime minister. On the same day, the army distanced itself from the repression, declaring its loyalty to the people.
The following day, the escalation of violence led to the storming of barricades in Dhaka and, a few hours later, to the official confirmation of the end of the Hasina government.
According to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 1,400 people died in the days before and after the fall of the regime.
More than 13,000 were injured. The charges against the former prime minister and her associates – now facing legal proceedings – include extrajudicial killings, torture, unlawful arrests and indiscriminate use of force.
The new interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, has promised a democratic transition.
, in the late afternoon, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate will read the July Declaration before Parliament, in the presence of political representatives, relatives of the victims and those injured in the protests.
A speech to the nation is expected in the evening to outline the path towards new elections.
But the challenges remain enormous. One year after the end of the Hasina era, many hopes for renewal have been unfulfilled.
GDP growth has slowed, with a forecast of 3.9% for 2025. Inflation remains high, standing at around 9% in May 2025, and the country's foreign debt has doubled in the last seven years.
challenges have prompted the government to request additional financial aid to stabilise the economy and support the political transition.
The most marginalised sectors of society – women, religious and ethnic minorities, and poor workers – complain that they have been excluded from the national reconstruction process. In some cases, they are even victims of new forms of violence.
The political climate is tense, and the risk of new street protests is real. Many fear that the announcement of an election date could reignite unrest.
A significant part of the population still supports the Awami League, yet most of the current political actors are pushing for elections without its participation.
This raises serious concerns about the inclusiveness and legitimacy of the electoral process.
At the same time, the growing influence of Islamic parties calling for the introduction of Sharia law is worrying religious minorities, who represent about 10% of the population.
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