Bangladesh: Protests can change governments, but can they strengthen democracy?

September 24, 2026

Two years after mass protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign in August 2024, Bangladesh grapples with whether it achieved genuine systemic reform or merely replaced one government with another. The July uprising, which began over civil service job quotas and resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths, successfully toppled a 15-year authoritarian regime and led to democratic elections. However, public optimism has plummeted from 71% to 42% as promised institutional reforms in the judiciary, police, and anti-corruption systems have stalled or been reversed.

Who is affected

The approximately 1,400 people killed between July 1 and August 15, 2024, and their families
Student protesters, including movement leader Hasnat Abdullah
Bangladeshi citizens who participated in the July 2024 uprising
Opposition political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
Human rights activists concerned about backsliding reforms
Citizens subject to cyber laws and internet restrictions
People employed in or affected by government institutions targeted for reform (judiciary, police, civil service)
Communities impacted by the successor to the Rapid Action Battalion (SRB)

What action is being taken

The democratically elected government (that came to power through elections held after the interim government period) is reviewing and in some cases revoking ordinances issued by the interim government
The government is proposing amendments to the Cyber Security Act
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development is conducting Pulse Surveys tracking public opinion through 2024 and 2025
Political parties are engaged in ongoing disagreements about the implementation of the July Charter reforms

Why it matters

This situation matters because it tests whether popular protest movements can achieve lasting systemic change beyond simply removing authoritarian leaders. The outcome will determine if Bangladesh can break cycles of authoritarianism through genuine institutional reform—including an independent judiciary, accountable police forces, and protected civil liberties—or if old power structures will reassert themselves under new leadership. The gap between public expectations (71% optimism initially) and current sentiment (42% by July 2025) reflects broader questions about how democracies are built and sustained, making Bangladesh's trajectory significant for understanding the relationship between protest and democratic transformation globally.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices