Is Bangladesh on the Brink of Change?

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: Bangladesh is currently facing one of the most significant periods of political and social unrest in its recent history. The ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, triggered by widespread student-led protests, has plunged the nation into chaos.

According to a preliminary report from the UN Human Rights Office, the violence has claimed over 600 lives, raising serious concerns about the conduct of security forces and the future stability of the country.

The crisis began with student protests sparked by a controversial decision to restore a quota system in government jobs. This system, which many viewed as unfair, was reintroduced following a court order, igniting widespread outrage among the student population.

Led by Nahid Islam, the protests quickly grew from a localized movement to a nationwide call for justice, reflecting broader frustrations with the government’s policies and governance.

The situation escalated when police attempted to suppress the protests with force, resulting in the deaths of six students. This act of violence only fueled the anger of the protesters, transforming the demonstrations into a full-blown civil disobedience campaign.

The government, in an attempt to regain control, suspended mobile phone and internet services across the country and imposed curfews in several cities. However, these measures failed to quell the unrest, which continued to grow in intensity.

As the protests gained momentum, they began to target not only the quota system but also broader issues of governance, corruption, and the concentration of power within the ruling Awami League party.

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/bangladeshs-power-shift/

The movement resonated with many Bangladeshis who had grown disillusioned with Sheikh Hasina’s decade-long rule, marked by allegations of authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and nepotism.

On August 4, the civil disobedience movement reached its peak, and the pressure on Prime Minister Hasina became untenable. Fearing for her safety and political future, Hasina resigned from her position on August 5 and fled to India.

Her dramatic exit marked a significant turning point in the crisis, but it also led to a new wave of violence as her supporters attempted to stage a counter-revolution.

The violence reached a climax on August 15, a day of deep historical significance in Bangladesh. The date marks the anniversary of the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Sheikh Hasina and the founder of Bangladesh, who was killed in a military coup in 1975.

Traditionally, August 15 has been observed as a public holiday in Bangladesh, with ceremonies and events commemorating Sheikh Mujib’s legacy. However, this year, the interim government that took over after Hasina’s departure announced an end to the public holiday, signaling a break with the past.

In response, supporters of Hasina’s Awami League took to the streets in large numbers, attempting to revive the party’s influence and challenge the new interim government. However, the students who had led the original protests were determined to prevent any rollback of their achievements. Armed with batons, sticks, and pipes, they confronted Hasina’s supporters, thwarting their attempts to stage a counter-revolution.

With no police presence visible on the streets, hundreds of men formed a human barrier to prevent Hasina’s supporters from reaching her old family home, the site where Sheikh Mujib and many of his relatives were killed 49 years ago.

This building, once a museum commemorating Sheikh Mujib’s life, became a symbol of the old regime, and in the chaos, it was set on fire and vandalized by angry crowds.

The violence and destruction highlighted the deep divisions within Bangladesh society and the intense emotions surrounding the political crisis.

The UN report that followed the events painted a grim picture of the situation, with around 400 deaths reported between July 16 and August 4, and an additional 250 people killed during the subsequent protests from August 5 to August 6.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/irans-retaliation-what-next/

The report emphasized the disproportionate and often indiscriminate use of force by security forces, accusing them of violating human rights and exacerbating the violence.

“There are serious and credible allegations that the security forces responded to both protests and subsequent violence with unnecessary and disproportionate force,” the UN report stated. 

The international community has expressed deep concern over the situation in Bangladesh, with human rights organizations calling for an immediate investigation into the actions of the security forces and the government’s handling of the crisis.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk announced that a team would visit Dhaka to discuss the modalities for an investigation into the human rights violations that occurred during the protests. This investigation is expected to provide crucial insights into the extent of the violence and the accountability of those involved.

In the aftermath of Hasina’s departure, an interim government led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus has taken charge of the country.

The new administration faces the daunting task of restoring order, addressing the grievances that fueled the protests, and steering Bangladesh towards a more stable and democratic future.

One of its first actions was to reopen educational institutions across the country, which had been closed for over a month due to the violence. On August 18, schools, colleges, and universities resumed classes, although the atmosphere remains tense, and the scars of recent events are still fresh.