How Bangladeshi Students Overthrew the Former Ruler of Their Country?

A week after protesters managed to oust Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, it is now students who are stopping cars at intersections in shiny vests, checking drivers' licenses, and warning those who are not wearing seatbelts. In some cases, students are searching the trunks of cars to prevent the possible smuggling of items belonging to individuals suspected of being former government members. Before Hasina was astonishingly overthrown by the student movement, she was regarded as one of the most unshakeable leaders in the country. She ruled Bangladesh for over 20 years, winning four consecutive elections, with each year seeing an increase in her authoritarianism. How did the overthrow occur? Many are seeking answers in a country where revolutionary violence has left over 400 dead, and the shadow of bloody conflicts is still visible. How did Bangladeshi youth manage to topple their authoritarian regime? The end of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule in Bangladesh came with her resignation and flight from the country. The protests led by students began with demands to abolish the quota system for government jobs, a law interpreted to benefit Hasina's allies. However, this seemingly trivial protest turned into a full-blown rebellion against the government. The killing of students in clashes with security forces sparked broader anger against the regime, and a wave of public support helped students achieve the overthrow of the government. Some observers believe that the combination of previous discontent with recent events in Bangladesh prevented the student protests from being limited to a short-term gathering and propelled them towards the overthrow of the government. In other words, the suppressed anger from a government that has neither provided adequate welfare and economic livelihood nor granted political and civil freedoms led the majority of the silent discontented to support the students' protests and overthrow Hasina's authoritarian regime. Now, although the students have managed to bring down the tyrant and take control of affairs to some extent, there are significant concerns about the future of this country and how the new government will be managed. Students and protesters have previously stated that before any elections are held, reforms of certain institutions must be prioritized; a task that is not easily achievable. Some experts have also warned that the interim government currently in charge is 'non-elected' and thus lacks a mandate for major changes. Furthermore, appointing students as new ministers, while they have no governance experience, may create new challenges. Nahid Islam, one of these students, is managing the Ministry of Information and Technology at the age of 25. She acknowledges that none of them have governance experience but believes that the determination and will of these youth in ousting Hasina demonstrate the potential these students have for accomplishing great tasks. This female student states, 'Students who have successfully led a revolt are capable enough to govern and build the country.' After thousands of Bangladeshi protesters defied martial law and attacked the Prime Minister's official residence, Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position on August 6 after 15 years in power and fled to India. After Hasina's departure from power, students have warned senior government officials and those close to the former Prime Minister, demanding their resignation. In this context, six judges of the Supreme Court have resigned from their positions. Experts believe that these young students may not wish to step down from their positions after experiencing government presence, despite their lack of governance experience and being generally under 30 years old. The reality is that society and students are currently trying to move past the widespread violence of recent weeks, which has left hundreds dead and thousands injured. Students are also busy cleaning the streets that were damaged during these protests. They brought down the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father, in Dhaka, who was once a highly respected figure in the country. Mujib, as the first leader of Bangladesh after the country's independence in 1971, has always held a special respect among the public opinion of Bangladesh. However, Hasina's policies have caused her father to become detested by a significant portion of Bangladeshi society. The continuation of this instability has raised concerns about the future outlook in Bangladesh. It is still unclear when the next elections will be held.