To call it a tumultuous time would be an understatement. The state-sponsored massacre had reached a bloody crescendo, yet the iron grip of Sheikh Hasina seemed firmer than ever in late July and early August 2024. On some days, it felt as though law enforcement agencies would continue shooting until the bullets ran out.

To speak of politics in 2024 is also to recall the entire history of political culture that has unfolded in Bangladesh since 1972.

The selection, prioritisation and delivery of those reforms will determine whether this moment in our country’s history is a new dawn or a false one.