Sheikh Hasina, who helped Bangladesh escape military rule, saw her 15-year tenure end suddenly on Monday when protesters stormed her palace in Dhaka.
Her time in power saw economic growth but also mass arrests of political opponents and human rights sanctions against her security forces.
Protests began in July with university students rallying against job quotas, escalating into violent unrest and demands for her resignation. Police and pro-government student groups’ attacks on protesters drew international condemnation.
At 76, Hasina won a fifth term in January, but the opposition boycotted the vote, calling it unfair. Her government faced many accusations, including the murder of opposition activists.
Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh’s independence leader, led the country through rapid economic growth. Despite her promise to make Bangladesh prosperous, 18 million young people remain unemployed.
Hasina was abroad when military officers killed her family in 1975. She returned to lead her father’s party, facing house arrest and political struggles. She allied with Khaleda Zia to oust a military dictator in 1990 but later became rivals.
She first became prime minister in 1996 but lost to Zia five years later. Both were imprisoned on corruption charges in 2007 but later contested an election, which Hasina won in a landslide in 2008.
Her supporters praise her for the economic boom and growth in the garment export industry, driven by a mostly female workforce. Since 2009, Bangladesh’s economy grew over 6% annually, reducing poverty and increasing electricity access. In 2021, its per capita income surpassed India’s.
Hasina also cracked down on militants after extremists killed 22 people in a Dhaka cafe in 2016. However, her intolerance of dissent led to resentment and concern internationally.
Five top leaders and an opposition figure were executed for 1971 war crimes, sparking protests and clashes. Critics called the trials politically motivated. The US imposed sanctions in 2021 on Bangladesh’s elite security forces for human rights abuses.
Despite protests, Hasina toured Dhaka areas damaged in recent unrest, defending her actions and contributions to the nation.