Bangladesh Turmoil: Was Hasina a 'Shock Absorber' or 'Villain'? Legacy Reassessed

• Bangladesh faces severe political disorder, violence, and institutional paralysis post-Sheikh Hasina's removal in August 2024.
• The interim Yunus-led government struggles to assert authority, leading to a power vacuum filled by radical groups.
• Hasina's rule, despite its flaws, is now being re-evaluated as a "stabilizing anchor" that contained extremism and maintained order.
• Critics argue Western observers misjudged Bangladesh's fragile context, leading to a "strategic miscalculation" in her ouster.
• The current instability raises questions if the pursuit of democratic optics has left Bangladesh worse off, with minorities and journalists facing threats.

Why It Matters: Post-Hasina Bangladesh faces chaos, prompting a re-evaluation of her stabilizing, albeit flawed, rule.