The early years of Bangladesh were marked by high hopes and aspirations under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. However, his assassination in 1975 ushered in a series of military-led governments that altered the course of the country’s democracy. The return to civilian rule in the 1990s lead to unrest, electoral disputes, and questions about democratic integrity along with allegations of corruption, authoritarian governance, and suppression of opposition voices became a defining feature of Bangladeshi politics.