The Economist, a renowned British weekly magazine, has named Bangladesh the ‘Country of the Year’ for 2024 recognising the the nation’s incredible political and social transformation.

‘The winner toppled a tyrant and seems headed for something better,’ the British magazine said.

The recognition was based on the student-led mass uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule had been marked by authoritarianism, electoral manipulation, and corruption despite delivering strong economic growth.

The Economist also announced Syria as the runner-up following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, which ended decades of brutal dictatorship characterised by civil war, mass atrocities, and exploitation, offering hope to Syrians while undermining his autocratic allies.

Each December, The Economist selects a ‘Country of the Year,’ recognising the nation that has demonstrated the most significant improvement over the past 12 months, rather than the richest, happiest, or most virtuous.

‘The selection process involves lively debate among its correspondents. Past winners have included Colombia for ending a civil war, Ukraine for resisting an unprovoked invasion, and Malawi for its steps towards democratization, according to The Economist.

In 2023, Greece received the accolade for overcoming a prolonged financial crisis and re-electing a pragmatic centrist government.

‘Our winner is Bangladesh, which also overthrew an autocrat. In August student-led street protests forced out Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled the country of 175m for 15 years,’ The Economist said.

Describing the political shift in Bangladesh as ‘Delta Force,’ the British newspaper said that a daughter of an independence hero, Sheikh Hasina once presided over swift economic growth. But she became repressive, rigging elections, jailing opponents and ordering the security forces to shoot protesters. Huge sums of money were stolen on her watch.

‘Bangladesh has a history of vengeful violence when power changes hands. The main opposition party, the BNP, is venal. Islamic extremism is a threat. Yet the transition has so far been encouraging,’ The Economist said.

A temporary technocratic government, led by Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel peace prizewinner, and backed by students, the army, business and civil society has restored order and stabilised the economy, the newspaper mentioned.

The British weekly mentioned that in 2025 Bangladesh would need to repair ties with India and decide when to hold elections—first ensuring that the courts were neutral and the opposition had time to organise.

‘None of this will be easy. But for toppling a despot and taking strides towards a more liberal government, Bangladesh is our country of the year,’ The Economist stated.

‘Our runner-up is a late entrant: Syria,’ the renowned newspaper said.

The ousting of Bashar al-Assad on December 8th ended half a century of depraved dynastic dictatorship. In just the past 13 years civil war and state violence have killed perhaps 600,000 people.

According to The Economist, Mr Assad’s regime used chemical weapons and mass torture against perceived opponents, and resorted to industrial-scale drug-dealing to raise cash.

His fall brought joy to Syrians and humiliation to his autocratic backers—Russia, which lent him air power to drop barrel bombs, and Iran, which counted Syria (with Hamas and Hizbullah) as part of its ‘axis of resistance’.

Mr Assad was easily the worst tyrant deposed in 2024. But the quality of what replaces him matters, too.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the most powerful rebel group, which now controls Damascus and chunks of the rest of Syria, has been pragmatic so far.

But until 2016 it was affiliated with al-Qaeda, and for some years it governed Idlib province competently, but repressively.

If HTS gains too much power, it may impose an Islamist autocracy. If it has too little, Syria may fall apart, the British magazine mentioned.