On Monday, 5 August 2024, Dhaka erupted in jubilation as the long reign of Sheikh Hasina came to an abrupt end, an event that many have dubbed the nation’s actual victory day. Tens of thousands of people, many of them women and children, flocked to the capital’s streets to celebrate Sheikh Hasina’s abrupt departure from Bangladesh in the face of growing calls for her resignation.

The atmosphere in Dhaka was electric as the news of Hasina’s exit spread. Defying a nationwide curfew, crowds surged into areas like Shahbagh, Kawran Bazar, and Farmgate, eventually converging at the Prime Minister’s residence, Ganobhaban, and the parliament house. People flocked to sweet shops and chanted slogans to mark the joyous occasion.

In fact, celebrations were not confined to the capital; the entire country echoed with joy.

“This is not the time to stay at home; it’s a time to celebrate,” a woman who went to the Ganobhaban with relatives following the fall of Hasina’s government, told the media, adding: “I never imagined we’d be free from Hasina’s oppressive rule.”

But few could have anticipated Sheikh Hasina’s regime – which for years appeared unassailable – collapsing so quickly.

After decades of suppressing dissent and undermining democracy, the government has finally been overthrown by a movement that started with a modest demand to reform the government job quota system.

This student-led uprising ignited a firestorm of public discontent, exposing the deep rot within a government that had clung to power through three consecutive elections widely condemned as fraudulent.

Sheikh Hasina, who once positioned herself as the guardian of Bangladesh’s development, increasingly viewed herself as untouchable.

Her statements, like boasting of feeding the nation’s 160 million people, betrayed an authoritarian arrogance that alienated the populace. She ruled not as a servant of the people, but as a tyrant, suppressing any opposition with brutal efficiency – using killings, abductions, and judicial harassment to silence dissent.

Her regime responded to every legitimate demand – whether for road safety, inflation control, or democratic restoration – with threats, intimidation, and the closure of vital services like electricity and water. A large segment of the media, business community, and civil society, out of fear or favour, backed her administration.

But the facade of progress – embodied by infrastructure projects like bridges and flyovers – could not mask the reality of widespread corruption, inequality, and political repression.

When students took to the streets to demand quota reforms, the government’s response was predictably ruthless. Curfews, internet blackouts, and violent crackdowns led to nearly 500 deaths in less than two weeks. Yet, these oppressive measures only fueled the flames of rebellion.

The mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unyielding demand for justice. It is a resounding rejection of 16 years of misrule, corruption, and oppression.

The students’ movement, which quickly grew to encompass broad segments of society – teachers, doctors, cultural activists, and even retired military officers – became a national call for accountability and reform.

As Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka, her departure marked more than just the end of her tenure. It signaled the collapse of a regime that had long overstayed its welcome, a regime that had forgotten that power ultimately resides with the people.

Now, the massive responsibility of establishing a friendly climate for free and fair elections falls on the interim government so that the nation can be governed by those chosen by its population.

But the new administration will also face challenges in trying to restore a country torn apart by years of tyranny. To succeed, it must earn the trust of a wary populace.

Transparency, accountability, and a commitment to human rights must be at the forefront of its agenda. People’s participation will be key to crafting an inclusive society that heals the wounds of the past and builds a future where democracy, justice, and equality are more than just words. If not, the ever-watchful students and citizens will hold the rulers accountable through their movements.