From Pro-Democracy Leader to Ousted Autocrat: The Downfall of Sheikh Hasina

Mon Nov 17 2025 15:41:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Sheikh Hasina, once hailed as a pro-democracy icon in Bangladesh, finds herself in self-imposed exile after a brutal crackdown on protests led to her conviction for crimes against humanity. This article explores her dramatic rise and fall, examining her controversial tenure and the recent events that culminated in her fleeing the country.

Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh, has transitioned from a reputed pro-democracy leader to a condemned figure after a brutal suppression of protests. Following her ousting due to public unrest and a subsequent death sentence for crimes against humanity, Hasina's legacy remains marred by allegations of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and political repression during her rule. The article outlines her rise to power, significant economic achievements, and the catastrophic events leading to her downfall.

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 that spiraled into nationwide unrest.

On 17 November, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity. It was found that Hasina had ordered 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, according to UN human rights investigators. Their report found that she and her government had attempted to cling to power using systematic, deadly violence against demonstrators.

It was the worst bloodshed the country had experienced since independence in 1971.

The protests marked an unexpected end to Hasina's more than two-decade reign. Her Awami League party had been credited with overseeing Bangladesh's economic progress. However, in recent years she faced accusations of authoritarianism and repression.

Allegations of politically motivated arrests, disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and a crackdown on dissent escalated under her leadership.

An order to 'use lethal weapons'

In January 2024, Hasina won an unprecedented fourth term as prime minister in an election widely criticized as a sham and boycotted by the main opposition. Protests ignited later that year over demands to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, evolving into a broader anti-government movement as she violently suppressed dissent.

During this tumultuous time, Hasina remained defiant, labeling protesters as 'terrorists' and imprisoning hundreds. A leaked audio clip suggested she had ordered security forces to 'use lethal weapons' against demonstrators, a claim she vehemently denied.

Some of the deadliest incidents occurred on 5 August, the day she fled by helicopter before crowds stormed her residence in Dhaka, leading to at least 52 deaths in police shootings in a single day.

Hasina, tried in absentia, dismissed the tribunal as a 'farce' controlled by her political adversaries. She has called for her party's ban to be lifted, intending to influence upcoming elections scheduled for February.

More charges loom

In addition to the human rights violations highlighted, Hasina faces charges linked to forced disappearances during her administration and is implicated in a separate corruption trial, all of which she and her party deny.

How did Sheikh Hasina come to power?

Born into a politically active Muslim family in 1947, Hasina became a prominent student leader at Dhaka University and later the leader of the Awami League, her father's party, after returning from exile in India in 1981. Through her political career, she emerged as a significant figure in Bangladesh's push for democracy against military rule.

During her first term starting in 1996, she was recognized for several important national achievements, including a water-sharing agreement with India. Yet, her government was also plagued by accusations of corruption and subservience to foreign interests.

Critical observers noted that her rivalry with Khaleda Zia led to violent political conflicts, including bombings and disappearances, further blurring the lines of political accountability in Bangladesh.

Achievements and controversies

Bangladesh's transformation from one of the world's poorest nations to a burgeoning economy is significantly attributed to Hasina's leadership from 2009 onward. The nation witnessed a tripling of per capita income and a dramatic reduction in poverty affecting over 25 million people over two decades.

However, this growth came alongside growing accusations of authoritarianism, as laws and actions restricting opposition and infringing human rights manifested under her governance.

The recent protests against her rule sparked in the context of rising living costs and economic challenges are reflective of the long-standing discontent among the populace regarding her governance and its implications for democracy in Bangladesh.