Publications

Briefing Paper on the recent Election Timing & Institutional Reforms: A Constitutional Debate Webinar

The student-led uprising in July 2024, initially sparked by protests against a quota-based public service recruitment system, culminated in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule on August 5th, 2024. Her administration was marked by corruption, authoritarianism, and widespread human rights violations. The regime’s brutal response to the protests, including ‘shoot-at-sight’ orders that claimed over […]

Sheikh Hasina’s regime, termed a ‘thugocracy’ by The Economist,1 ruled Bangladesh for over 15 years, making Hasina the longest-serving woman head of state. Relying on ‘patronage politics’, the Hasina-led Awami League government captured all state institutions, effectively vanishing the differences between the state and the ruling party.2 The country was on the verge of becoming […]

Bangladesh’s economy has been experiencing a tumultuous phase since 2020 due to a host of challenges. The country’s foreign exchange reserve has fallen by around 60% in less than two years, forcing the government to restrict imports. The import restrictions have impacted the lives of Bangladeshis in multiple ways. Inflation has been hovering around 9% […]

BackgroundOn January 7, 2024, Bangladesh had its 12th national parliamentary election. The election was boycotted by the main opposition party BNP and its alliance partners, giving the ruling alliance, led by Awami League (AL), a walkover. Awami League’s official nominees won in 224 constituencies, while independent candidates, backed by factions of the local Awami League, […]

Asia’s Democracy Agenda Accelerating Asian Democracy: Perspectives from Advocates and Practitioners on Navigating Pro-democracy Defense and Promotion discusses contemporary democracy contexts and aims to trigger united and effective responses to democracy challenges. This endeavor aims to serve as a navigational tool for the Asian pro-democracy sectors as they endeavor to promote and protect democratic institutions and […]