Since the assassination of a prominent student leader, Sharif Osman Hadi (a founder of Inquilab Mancha) on 18 December 2025, Bangladesh has once again been pushed into a cycle of protests and political unrest. This development comes at a time when the country is already navigating a fragile political transition that began with the July 2024 mass uprising, often referred to as the July Revolution. In the aftermath of this movement, Sheikh Hasina, leader of the ruling Awami League, who remained in power for 15 consecutive years (2009–2024), was forced to resign and fled to India in August. It is important to note that this was her second tenure, as her first term lasted for 5 years (June 1996-July 2001). Together, she ruled for 20 years. After her removal, Dr Muhammad Yunus (a renowned Nobel laureate, economist, and entrepreneur) was sworn in as the country’s interim Chief Advisor.

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What makes the country significant is that the political rupture occurred despite relatively strong economic indicators. According to the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) report, before the upheaval, Bangladesh had maintained an average GDP growth rate of over 6% between 2016 and 2023, including resilience during the COVID-19 period. Conventional political economy literature suggests that countries experiencing sustained economic growth are less likely to witness successful mass political movements. Bangladesh’s case challenges this assumption, making it a critical example of how the highhandedness of a political party/leader can override economic performance as a cause.

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The current transition phase is raising profound questions—not only for citizens........

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