Hasina, known as the iron lady of Bangladesh, resigns and flees the country after weeks of deadly protests.
Sheikh Hasina became prime minister of Bangladesh for the first time after her party, the Awami League, won the 1996 elections. Her second spell in power, beginning in 2009, was marked by impressive economic growth.
But she has been accused of becoming a hardline leader and suppressing dissent. His 15-year government is also known for human rights violations. The United States has imposed sanctions on the elite Rapid Action Battalion linked to disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
On Monday, after weeks of protests, the 76-year-old resigned and fled the country. Here’s a look at his time in office:
December 29, 2008 – The Awami League wins the general elections and Hasina becomes prime minister for the second time.
February 2009 – The Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary force, revolt. More than 74 people are killed. Hasina’s government manages to restore order.
June 2011 – The 15th amendment to the constitution is approved. It brings significant changes, including the removal of neutral interim governments, which ruled during elections and government transitions. The opposition claims that maintaining the provisional system is essential for free and fair elections.
February 2013 – Mass protests in Shahbagh, Dhaka, call for the death penalty for those who committed atrocities during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
October, 2013 – The Rana Plaza building collapses, killing more than 1,000 people and highlighting the lack of safety in the garment industry, which is the mainstay of Bangladesh’s economy.
January 5, 2014 – The Awami League wins the general elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition party and its allies. Hasina wins a second consecutive term as prime minister.
January 2015 – Political unrest and violence arise from the unmet demands of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party following the 2014 elections.
December 30, 2018 – Awami League wins general election amid allegations of voter fraud. Hasina secures a third consecutive term after winning 96 percent of the vote.
March 2020 – Bangladesh’s economy is suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lockdown causes price increases, which leads to a cost of living crisis.
December 2021 – The US imposes human rights sanctions on Bangladesh’s elite paramilitary force, the Rapid Action Battalion, and seven of its current and former personnel, accusing them of involvement in hundreds of disappearances and extrajudicial killings since 2009.
2022 – Bangladesh reports gross domestic product growth of 7.2%, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Apparel exports and shipments drive expansion. However, wealth disparities are widening and the richest 10% of the population now control 41% of total income.
January 2024 – Hasina wins her fourth consecutive term in elections boycotted by the opposition.
July 2024 – Students launch protests against government employment quotas, which reserve a third of civil service positions for descendants of people who fought in the 1971 war for independence. The protests turned violent after a government crackdown and group attacks linked to the ruling party.
July 29, 2004 – Protests resume and calls for Hasina’s resignation grow.
August 4, 2004 – Nearly 100 people died during the protests, bringing the total death toll to nearly 300.
August 5, 2024 – Hasina resigns and flees the country. Protesters invade the prime minister’s residence.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
