How Bangladeshi Students Toppled a Government

In August 2024, a mass uprising in Bangladesh toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina after violent crackdown against a student movement demanding reform of quotas for public sector jobs sparked anti-government protests. In power for 15 years, Hasina had become increasingly authoritarian. But her divisive rhetoric, Internet blackouts, and use of force failed to suppress youthful opponents wielding memes and graffiti to spread the spirit of revolt. Now that some student leaders are in the transitional government, they face the test of delivering on those viral calls for democracy rather than just co-opting their style into a new official narrative.