Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed began her political career as a pro-democracy icon, but fled mass protests against her rule in August 2024 after 15 years in power.
Since then, Hasina has been in self-imposed exile in India, where she flew after being deposed by the student-led uprising which spiraled into nationwide unrest.
On 17 November, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity, including ordering a deadly crackdown on protesters between 15 July and 5 August 2024. She denied all charges against her.
Up to 1,400 people were killed during the weeks of protests leading up to her ousting, most by gunfire from security forces, UN human rights investigators reported. The protests brought an unexpected end to Hasina's reign, during which she oversaw economic progress but faced increasing allegations of autocracy.
Despite being awarded for Bangladesh's economic achievements, including lifting millions out of poverty, many criticized her for systematic violence and a lack of democratic freedoms. The pro-democracy protests that ousted her were sparked by her controversial fourth electoral term.
Born in 1947, Hasina entered politics following her father's assassination in a military coup. She later became a student leader, leading to her rise as a national political figure in the 1980s. However, her transformation into a ruler accused of authoritarianism contrasts sharply with her origins as a pro-democracy figure.
Currently, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads – grappling with the legacies of Hasina's tumultuous rule amidst ongoing political tensions and calls for true democratic governance.
