Violent protests made Hasina govt untenable, led to power shift, says MEA in first official statement

Bangladesh’s political landscape saw a major shift following widespread public protests that ended in a change of government, according to a News 18 report, citing the Ministry of External Affairs’ Annual Report for 2024.

The report, which is out now, details how Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration was confronted by a student-led movement over the contentious issue of quotas and reservations for the families of freedom fighters, added the report.

The report states that initially peaceful protests in Bangladesh turned violent from mid-July 2024, creating a crisis that ultimately forced the Awami League from power.

The unrest led to the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government and triggered a major political shift. In the aftermath, an interim administration was established under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, according to the report.

This marks the MEA’s first official acknowledgment of the change in power in Bangladesh.

The MEA’s report also highlights a key diplomatic moment mentioning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first global leader to congratulate Muhammad Yunus on assuming leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government.

This prompt gesture signaled India’s intent to engage constructively with the new administration and ensure continuity in bilateral relations despite the political upheaval in Dhaka, reported News 18.

The report does not mention Hasina’s presence in India, a point that has fueled public speculation.

Overall, the report outlines India’s strategic view of the political transition in Bangladesh —from the outbreak of protests to the leadership change and subsequent diplomatic outreach.

Hasina, who had been in power for the past 15 years, resigned and fled the country in August 2024 by a helicopter after weeks of deadly unrest in which more than 300 people had been killed.

With inputs from agencies