Awami League's Leadership Crisis: From Liberation Heroes to Political Turmoil

The ruling Awami League in Bangladesh faces an unprecedented leadership crisis following the dramatic ousting and flight of its long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Internal turmoil, public discontent, and violent protests have left the party in disarray, with key leaders either in hiding or arrested, threatening its future.

A dominant force in Bangladesh politics since the Liberation War in 1971, the Awami League now confronts an unprecedented leadership crisis. Internal strife, public dissatisfaction, and the dramatic ousting of leader Sheikh Hasina have left the party in turmoil.

Members compare this crisis to the period following the 1975 assassination of founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The current chaos was triggered when Hasina, after a prolonged student protest, fled to India on August 5. This decision has been criticized as a betrayal by her closest allies, exacerbating the party's instability.

Obaidul Quader, the party's second-in-command, and other senior members are either in hiding or imprisoned, leaving the Awami League without clear leadership. The party's central offices are abandoned, and public ire has left the organization in disarray, marking an uncertain future for Bangladesh's political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)