“The story of Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina may serve as a cautionary tale for other authoritarian leaders in the region: no matter how entrenched a regime may seem, the power of the people, driven by a thirst for justice, equity, and dignity, remains an unstoppable force. The turmoil in Bangladesh is a clarion call for change, signalling that the era of authoritarian rule must and will come to an end.”

These words from Scroll contributor Ashok Swain’s July 22 column on the Bangladesh protests seem prophetic now.

Hasina, the world’s longest-serving woman head of state and Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister, fled her country on Monday amid massive anti-government protests that have killed hundreds.

The ingredients in this powder keg reflect India’s own social faultlines: reservations, unemployment, widening inequality and a drift towards authoritarianism. Are we heading down a similar path, or can lessons still be learnt?

Find the answers in our coverage of the uprising, and become a Scroll Member today so that we can keep bringing you the truth about what’s happening in our neighbourhood. 

Bangladesh protests are a reminder that authoritarian regimes have an inherent expiry date

The story of Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina is as a cautionary tale for other autocratic leaders in the region.

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Bangladesh protests: By backing Sheikh Hasina, India is undermining its own interests

A security-centric approach that favours the unpopular Awami League could foster anti-India sentiment.

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What India is getting wrong about Bangladesh student protests

There has been a failure to comprehend the genuine grievances of Bangladeshis amid conspiracy theories of China or America undermining security interests.

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Two nations, a common struggle: How youth unrest in Bangladesh and Kenya catalysed uprisings

Both countries have seen long-standing frustration with the economy and the perceived indifference of the government. Student-led protests merely lit the spark.

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Bangladesh student-led protests morph into a mass uprising to unseat an ‘autocratic government’

Despite 200 deaths, the fear that had stifled criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dissipated. There is now one demand: she must resign.

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‘Fear of Hasina gone’: How the student agitation has shaken up Bangladesh’s authoritarianism

Scroll spoke to Ali Riaz, an expert on Bangladeshi politics, to understand the impact of the student protests.

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‘Step Down Hasina’: As millions take to the streets in Bangladesh, at least 91 feared dead

Supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League and security forces have cracked down on protestors.

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