In August 2025, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, besieged by massive protests from university students, resigned and fled to India. Opponents of the government’s employment quota system sparked a nationwide call to reform the practice, which led to the nation’s “second independence.”
The term “second independence” indicates that the population sees the ouster of Hasina’s regime as liberation from tyranny. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate who headed the interim government after Hasina’s departure, announced: “We have got back our freedom.” We need to protect our independence.
The transitional Authority is working on restoring stability and performing reforms. Yunus also highlighted the need to safeguard the people and redeem the country, and the need to engage the people in that process.
The transition exposed deep political divisions in Bangladesh. According to analysts, the interim administration should focus on political consensus, economic stability, and the rebuilding of the state institutions to provide accountability.
August 5, 2025, will mark the completion of the first year of this transition for Bangladesh. We hope Bangladesh will find democracy and stability after this second independence.