Mujibur Rahman's Rise To Sheikh Hasina's Fall: A Bangladesh Timeline

Since independence half a century ago, many of the country's leaders have been forced to flee or had their time in office cut short by violent deaths.

Ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina's dramatic flight from Bangladesh in a helicopter on Monday under pressure from protesters and the army is far from a first in the South Asian nation. 

Since independence half a century ago, many of the country's leaders have been forced to flee or had their time in office cut short by violent deaths.

AFP looks back at five key points in Bangladesh's turbulent history.