End of authoritarian era of Awami League in Bangladesh
Awami League, the founding party of Bangladesh, ruled the country for a total of 30 years, of which 20 years were the rule of Sheikh Hasina Wajid. Although this party was at the extremes of popularity in the beginning, but gradually this party kept losing its popularity and now the situation has reached such a point that its prime minister had to resign and flee the country.
The long reign and popularity of Awami League gave rise to authoritarian thinking in this party. During the rule of Awami League, several incidents of authoritarian behavior came to light, which had a profound impact on the politics and public life of the country. Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tried to give political stability to the country after East Pakistan became Bangladesh. But during the 1974 famine, the Awami League government was accused of inadequacy and corruption, leading to public discontent. The famine highlighted the failure of Awami League government policies and affected public confidence.
In the 1980s, the Awami League faced political unrest and anxiety. During this period, the Awami League took harsh measures against the opposition, including the use of force against protesters. This political tension further highlighted the authoritarian behavior of the Awami League, which included street protests and crackdowns during political confrontations. The events of this period called into question the policies of the Awami League government and made attempts at political stability difficult.
During the 2000s, the Awami League faced further challenges. After the 2001 elections, the Awami League was accused of rigging and lack of transparency, and emergency was imposed in 2007. During the Emergency, the Awami League cracked down on opposition leaders and imposed restrictions on the media, leading to allegations of human rights violations and restrictions on freedom of expression. These actions further illustrate the authoritarian policies of Awami League.
The elections held in 2014 and 2018 ushered the Awami League's authoritarian behavior into a new phase. These elections were marred by widespread rigging and transparency issues, and the Awami League cracked down on opposition protest movements. During these elections, the Awami League was accused of suppressing political opponents and imposing restrictions on freedom of expression, which made the country's political atmosphere more controversial.
In recent years, the Awami League has imposed restrictions on the media and freedom of expression, and has cracked down on the opposition. Allegations of corruption and poor economy have also surfaced against the Awami League, further affecting public confidence. During this period, the Awami League government took drastic measures to suppress political opposition and restrict freedom of expression, increasing political tension and public unrest in the country.
In July and August 2024, there were mass protests by students in Bangladesh against the quota system and other issues. Students raised their voice on the issues of reforms in educational institutions, anti-inflation and government corruption. These protests soon gained widespread public support, but the Awami League government took drastic measures to suppress the movement.
The government used force against the protestors through the police and other forces, resulting in the deaths of several protesters. During July and August 2024, there were reports of the deaths of over 20 protesters, mostly students. The government tried to suppress the protest movement through arrests of protesters and restrictions on the media. Restrictions on press freedom and allegations of human rights violations also raised international concerns.
Meanwhile, the demand for resignation of Awami League Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid grew due to intense public pressure and protest movement. The Prime Minister offered to resign in view of the situation in the country, but the authoritarian behavior of the government and the use of force against the protestors made the political atmosphere of the country more tense. This period is an important milestone in the authoritarian behavior of the Awami League government and political tension. However, Sheikh Hasina Wajid had to resign after a long term in power, which ended the authoritarian era of Awami League.
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