The students' movement in Bangladesh culminated into a situation - the regime change - which was unthinkable a year ago. For more than 15 years, Sheikh Hasina ruled Bangladesh with an iron hand crossing all limits of decency, tolerance, political pluralism and democratic norms. The same Sheikh Hasina, who looked invincible, arrogant and unshakable, had to fled to India in haste, leaving her supporters in the lurch.

Lessons from the regime change in Bangladesh cannot be analysed in isolation. The Awami League government which enjoyed a two-thirds majority was washed away in the flood of millions of people who revolted against the years of corruption, nepotism and a fascist mode of governance. Bangladesh doing well economically under Hasina proved to be a myth as the country is mired in huge debt and is suffering from growing unemployment and backbreaking price hike. Labeled as India's satellite state, Bangladesh had had its sovereignty compromised which further augmented anger among the vast majority of Bangladeshis.

Former East Pakistan that became Bangladesh in 1971 had a rich democratic tradition manifested by the right to free speech, only to be curtailed during the dictatorial rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. When Hasina crossed the line by unleashing a reign of terror against the protesting students, the die was cast. The measures like imposition of curfew, ban on social media and giving police the powers to crush the........

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