It is now one year since Sheikh Hasina, the long‑time prime minister of Bangladesh, fled to India on August 5, 2024 amid a student‑led uprising that convulsed the nation.

The events of that day ushered in a constitutional crisis, one with no precedent in the country’s charter for dealing with a prime minister’s abrupt resignation and departure. As such, in the days and weeks that followed, a caretaker government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was swiftly installed to guide Bangladesh through this tumultuous interregnum.

The year that followed brought both cautious optimism and creeping disquiet. On one hand, the transitional administration pledged reform. It embarked on an agenda to overhaul the elections framework and reinvent the Election Commission, before pledging a non‑partisan caretaker system to restore credibility to the democratic process.

Parliamentary elections were slow to materialise, however, and at time of typing are now slated for February 2026 according to the AP. Yet, progress about the way ahead has been painfully slow, and consensus remains elusive. The Awami League - Hasina’s party - has been barred from participating, a development widely reported and one that critics warn undermines pluralism and deepens political polarisation.

Freedom of expression in the country meanwhile, has seen mild improvements at best, but human‑rights groups are still sharply critical of continued arbitrary detentions, mob violence and the growing influence of hardline Islamist factions.

As a result, social cohesion remains fragile. Religious minorities report heightened anxiety amid societal instability and the political vacuum left by the upheaval according to The Times.

To this end, while Bangladesh demonstrates some healthier democratic procedures than under an increasingly authoritarian Hasina, it remains far from firmly on the path to stability.

Is Bangladesh a better place than in 2024?

While many citizens felt liberated when Hasina’s rule ended and there were celebrations on the street, the ending of a tenure marked by allegations of political interference, centralisation of power, and heavy‑handed suppression of dissent was just the beginning.

The road since has been rocky with governance under the interim government is untested and unelected, creating considerable unease about legitimacy. The old guard’s assets are now under scrutiny. Bangladesh’s Anti‑Corruption Commission has frozen dozens of bank accounts and assets linked to Hasina and her family, stretching across multiple countries, including the UK where the National Crime Agency has already frozen over GBP260mn ($348mn) in property owned by associates of Hasina’s regime, though some transfers are reported to be continuing despite ongoing investigations.

Because of this, even a year later, it is still too soon to declare Bangladesh unequivocally better off. Political reform initiatives are underway, but the transition remains fragile, and the risk of reverting to authoritarian backsliding persists amid law‑and‑order challenges and polarised politics.

Will Hasina be repatriated to face trial?

To date, the government in Dhaka has sought extradition via India and Interpol, but with no success. As we stand, Sheikh Hasina now faces formal charges of crimes against humanity, and she is accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown on the July 2024 protests that claimed over 1,400 lives. The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh, which Hasina herself established years earlier, has issued indictments and begun trial proceedings in absentia.

She was also sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court on July 2, 2025 The Guardian reports.

Despite these moves, there is little sign that India is cooperating – or will do so in the near future. This has seen the interim government in Dhaka publicly express frustration at Delhi for providing her sanctuary, yet so far the likelihood of a forced return appears slim.

Investigations also implicate several relatives though, including her son, daughter, sister and niece (Tulip Siddiq, a British MP) in corruption and asset misappropriation cases. This has only intensified scrutiny. The UK’s National Crime Agency is probing real‑estate deals and other financial transactions linked to her inner circle, and the Anti‑Corruption Commission in Bangladesh has requested further asset freezes according to local Bangladeshi media.

While her family’s influence in the UK has previously raised media interest -Tulip Siddiq stepped down from a ministerial post amid controversy over her family ties - there is as yet no evidence they are aiding an extradition effort. On the contrary, UK law enforcement appears instead focused on monitoring and possibly repatriating ill‑gotten assets according to Jurist News.

Subsequently, a year and a day after Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic departure, Bangladesh remains – still - in the throes of a fraught transition. The interim government, though promising, is yet to deliver meaningful reform amid exclusion, instability and rising radicalisation. Repatriation of Hasina appears improbable for now, with her safely ensconced in India and legal proceedings continuing in absentia. Meanwhile, her family faces intense scrutiny, particularly in the UK, though there’s no sign they are assisting toward her return.

The future of Bangladesh and almost 174mn Bangladeshi nationals remains in limbo.