Bangladesh Unrest

 Having served for a combined total of over 20 years, Sheikh Hasina the longest serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh was asked to live the country within 45 minutes on Monday 5th August 2024.  Her premiership ended in self-imposed exile following a series of violent protests in 2024 following weeks of deadly protests that began as demonstrations by students against government job quotas but surged into a movement demanding her resignation. She was flown into India in a Bangladesh Military Helicopter. 

India called for an all-party meeting on Bangladesh issue. EAM S Jaishankar addressed Parliament on Bangladesh issue and said continuous contact has been maintained with the Indian community and border forces have been vigilant. IMF said it is 'fully committed' to Bangladesh after protests oust PM

Top army brass reshuffled amidst political unrest, pm resignation, and military takeover. Bangladesh former IT minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak detained while trying to flee to India and Bangladesh parliament dissolved amid warnings. Bangladesh president ordered the release of jailed ex-PM Khaleda Zia. Bangladesh President and chiefs of staff met key members of student protests. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed head of Bangladesh's interim government, said President's Press Secretary

Sheikh Hasina looked to Belarus, Finland, and Russia among others for political asylum. Sheikh Hasina remained at the Hindon airbase, where is expected to stay over the next couple of days as the UK rejected her political asylum.

Her Son Sajeeb Wazed said Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh soon, has sought no asylum, plans to return to her country and revive her party, the Awami League. But earlier, he had said that his mother is old now and will give up politics and he too is not interested. 

On behalf of Naya Bangladesh, Bangladesh' Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon called on India to arrest former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, and send them back to Bangladesh, Daily Star reported. In a statement, he said, "We want to maintain a good relationship with the people of India. Please, arrest Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, who fled the country, and send them back to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina has killed many people in Bangladesh." 

What would happen, we need to wait and see. 

Some metrics from the years of her prime ministership: 

GDP in 2009 was USD 102 BILLION 

GDP in 2024 is 455 Billion

A 317% growth in 15 years. 

Per capita income  in 2024 is USD 2646

It was USD 698 in 2009

A 279% growth in per capita income 

Exports in 2009 was 17.36 Billion

Exports in 2024 are USD 50 Billion 

A 3X growth in exports 

Population in 2024 is 17.47 Crores

Population in 2009 was 14.67 Crores. 

A limited 19% growth in 15 Years. 

The economy of Bangladesh recorded an average growth rate of 6.5% in the decade to 2023, above the 4.3% average for the Asia-Pacific region.

Her fall is a great loss to Bangladesh

Bangladesh is now India’s potentially no more a friend,  Pakistan had not been ever, China has been expanding its borders,  Nepal is brooding, Maldives not close anymore, Sri Lanka is swimming out of the inner turmoil. Unfortunately, looks like India do not have even a single country in her neighbourhood as a friend, and she has been giving asylum to many .

If not managed well, this would not only effect Bangladesh, but the geopolitical situation of this subcontinent. 

So many are being killed on the borders, trying to get into India, and killed in Bangladesh. Count yet to be confirmed. 

Where is all this leading too? 

Rich can get better refuge - can move out in an aircraft, but the poor suffer.