On August 5, facing escalating violence and widespread protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh fled the country. Her departure followed nearly a month of intense unrest, sparked by student protests over a controversial job quota system, which escalated due to the government's violent crackdown on demonstrators. In the wake of Hasina’s resignation, Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government, promising to investigate the deaths and urging the public to remain calm. Below is a timeline of key events that led to her resignation and departure.
July 2: The Protests Begin
Student protests erupted in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, in opposition to a quota system for civil service recruitment that reserves 56% of government jobs for people from certain categories, including war veterans and their descendants. Students argued that the system was discriminatory and demanded its abolition. The protests were fueled further when the High Court reinstated the quota in June, overturning a 2018 government decision to abolish it. Although the government appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court, students, frustrated with the slow process, insisted on immediate action and called for a new executive order to cancel the quotas.
July 10-12: Sit-Ins and Disruptions
The protests intensified as students organized sit-ins at key intersections in Dhaka and at highways outside the city. These demonstrations disrupted traffic and transportation networks, causing widespread chaos across the capital.
July 14-15: Tensions Escalate
Prime Minister Hasina made public remarks critical of the students’ demands, particularly the inclusion of quotas for children and grandchildren of war veterans. These comments provoked outrage among the protesters. The situation worsened on July 15, when senior leaders of the ruling Awami League party, including the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the party’s student wing, vowed to give a “fitting reply” to the students.
Violence erupted as BCL activists attacked anti-quota protesters at Dhaka University and Dhaka Medical College Hospital, leaving more than 300 injured. This marked the beginning of widespread clashes between students and government supporters.
July 16-17: Violent Clashes and Loss of Life
By July 16, the violence had spread to other cities, including Chottogram and Rangpur. At least six people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces. Students fought back, driving BCL members out of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities and ransacking their leaders’ rooms. The situation deteriorated further on July 17, when students attempted to hold “absentee funerals” for the dead, only to be met with violent police crackdowns. University authorities closed campuses and ordered students to vacate their dormitories, but protests continued.
July 17: Hasina’s National Address
In an attempt to quell the unrest, Prime Minister Hasina addressed the nation, expressing sorrow over the deaths and announcing plans to establish a judicial inquiry to hold those responsible accountable. She urged students to wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the quota issue, suggesting that the court’s decision would be favorable. However, students remained defiant and called for a nationwide transportation shutdown the following day.
July 18-19: The Shutdown and Continued Violence
The shutdown, which began on July 18, saw violent protests across Dhaka and 19 other districts. Clashes between police and protesters led to at least 29 deaths. Police responded with live ammunition, rubber bullets, and shotgun pellets, while protesters set fire to buses, cars, and even the state-run television center. The city’s metro rail was shut down indefinitely. On July 19, the death toll surged to at least 66, and a prison break in Narsingdi district saw nearly 900 inmates freed.
July 20-21: Curfew and Death Toll Rises
To restore order, the government imposed a nighttime curfew and deployed the army. On July 20, at least 21 people were killed during the first day of curfew enforcement. The government declared two days of “general holiday” while continuing to detain leaders of the student movement and opposition figures.
The Supreme Court delivered its verdict on July 21, abolishing most of the quotas, leaving 93% of positions open to general applicants. However, student organizers dismissed the ruling as insufficient, accusing the government of responding too late and at too great a cost. The death toll stood at 146, according to The Daily Star.
July 23-28: Crackdown Intensifies
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, protests continued, and the government’s crackdown grew more intense. On July 23, police arrested several leaders of the student movement. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called for Hasina’s resignation, and diplomatic missions from 14 Western countries issued a joint letter urging accountability for law enforcement’s actions.
The government’s actions only fueled further protests. On July 28, six student leaders, while in police custody, read a statement announcing the end of their agitation. However, other student organizers vowed to continue. The protests reached a tipping point, and by August 3, students organized a massive rally demanding Hasina’s resignation and the formation of a "national government."
August 4-5: Nationwide Clashes and Hasina’s Flight from the Country
On August 4, clashes broke out across Dhaka and at least 21 other districts. At least 90 people were killed, including 13 policemen who were beaten to death by a mob. The violence reached a tipping point when thousands of protesters defied curfews and marched towards Dhaka. Despite initial attempts by the army to stop them, the protesters flooded the capital.
By the afternoon of August 5, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, under immense pressure and facing growing unrest, handed in her resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Her resignation marked the end of her leadership as the country’s political crisis deepened.
Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman quickly moved to restore order, announcing the formation of an interim government and inviting political parties, including the previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami, to the negotiation table. He promised that justice would be served for the 300 people who had died during the protests and urged the crowds to disperse peacefully.
Despite his calls for calm, the protests continued, with groups of demonstrators attacking government offices and even a museum dedicated to Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a founding father of the country.
Aftermath and Reflection
Following Hasina's fall, Bangladesh is left in a state of uncertainty. While the interim government has promised to investigate the deaths and restore order, the damage caused by the violent repression of protests is undeniable. What began as a student protest over a quota system has escalated into a full-blown political crisis, leaving the nation questioning the future of its democracy. As the dust settles, the question remains: Who will take power next, and how will Bangladesh rebuild after this turbulent chapter in its history?