As the nation grapples with a rising wave of Islamist extremism and escalating violence, the future of its democracy and regional stability hangs in the balance
The turmoil in Bangladesh, which led to Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister and departure to India, raises two questions. Why could she not prevent it? What lies ahead for Bangladesh and India? She should have reached out to the students–trying to win over the bulk of them who are moderates, and isolating the Islamist fundamentalist extremists–before their Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement (ADSM), had snowballed. She could have argued that her government did away with 30 per cent reservation for the descendants of the freedom fighters of the 1971 liberation war in 2018, which was their demand to start with. Bangladesh’s High Court restored it following a petition by several descendants. Indeed, her government had appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order.