Three of India’s neighboring countries—Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—are experiencing significant political turmoil marked by mass protests, demands for leaders to resign, and violent confrontations.
Bangladesh:
– The political crisis erupted after students launched protests against civil service job quotas last month. The protests were fueled by economic hardships and political repression, ultimately leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. She has fled the country and is currently in India, reportedly seeking asylum in Britain. A caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been formed to oversee upcoming elections.
Sri Lanka:
– Sri Lanka is grappling with its worst economic crisis in 75 years, which triggered massive protests starting in March 2022. The unrest led to the resignations of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other key officials. Ranil Wickremesinghe became president in July 2022, and the government has since reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF for a $2.9 billion loan to address the crisis. Sri Lanka will hold its first presidential election since the unrest on September 21.
Pakistan:
– In Pakistan, former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote and has since been jailed on various charges. Despite this, his party performed strongly in the February national elections, but a coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party enabled Shehbaz Sharif to secure a second term as prime minister. Pakistan remains politically volatile, facing a prolonged economic crisis and ongoing instability since Khan’s ouster.
These developments underscore the widespread political and economic challenges facing South Asia.
