Inside Bangladesh, it’s being dubbed a Gen Z revolution — a powerful protest movement driven primarily by young student demonstrators against the 76-year-old Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had dominated the nation for decades and had become increasingly authoritarian in recent years.
There was jubilation on the streets of Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, on Monday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country by helicopter following weeks of deadly anti-government unrest. Hasina’s abrupt exit ends 15 years in power marked by the suppression of civil freedoms and the heavy-handed use of security forces to crush dissent, according to critics and rights groups.
“This might very well be the first successful Gen Z-led revolution. There is perhaps some optimism for a democratic transition even if the military is involved in the process.”
Who is Nahid Islam, student leader of campaign?https://t.co/IPsHVL23Qz— Mariana Baabar (@MarianaBaabar) August 6, 2024
In a national address, Bangladesh’s army chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, announced that the military would form an interim government. However, student protest leaders have called for Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead a temporary administration. Later on Tuesday, a source at the Yunus Centre think tank in Dhaka confirmed to CNN that its founder had agreed to return to Bangladesh to fulfill the protesters’ request for him to serve as head of the interim government. The country’s main opposition party also offered its full support to the student protesters.
The protests began peacefully on July 1 at Dhaka University, with students demanding an end to the government’s quota system, which reserves 30% of civil service posts for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence from Pakistan in 1971. This quota system was seen as discriminatory and favoring supporters of Hasina’s ruling Awami League party. High unemployment rates, especially among the youth, fueled the anger, with the protests turning violent on July 15. The government’s increasingly deadly response further inflamed the demonstrators.
On Sunday, at least 91 people were killed, and hundreds were injured in clashes between police and protesters, marking the highest single-day death toll from protests in the country’s recent history. Following Hasina’s resignation on Monday, the celebrations soon turned violent as protesters torched several buildings, including the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and Awami League offices.
Disgraceful ouster of Sheikh Hasina, as another democratic govt topples, marks a black day for the democracy in the world. Shameful visuals of rioters looting Bangladesh PM’s residence reminds the ghosts of 1975 in which ‘Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman’ ( Hasina’s father) was killed. pic.twitter.com/Z6Q4qtHQlI
— Preetham K (@MightyIndian96) August 5, 2024
Hasina’s resignation followed intense pressure from the student-led movement, which was fueled by dismal job prospects, corruption, and repression. The military’s role in her resignation has been noted, with some members calling for an independent UN-led investigation into the atrocities and announcing they would not use deadly force on protesters who convened in the capital.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh awaited the formation of the interim government, with protest organizers from Students Against Discrimination planning to meet with Bangladesh’s army chief. Student leader Muhammad Nahid Islam stated that the group aims to abolish fascist systems forever and will not accept a military-led or supported government.
Yunus, a social entrepreneur and banker who won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering microfinance work, is expected to return to Bangladesh to lead the interim government after a minor medical procedure in Paris. He expressed his desire to see the army hand control of the country to a civilian government, noting the widespread celebrations across Bangladesh following Hasina’s resignation.
While Hasina’s resignation was celebrated, some Bangladeshis expressed trepidation about the path ahead as the country attempts to fill a leadership vacuum. “Hasina may be gone, but there is still a long road ahead for Bangladesh,” said Faiza Chowdhury, a 25-year-old student. “Until our religious minorities and ethnic minorities are protected and justice comes to them too, the nation is not free.”
Sheikh Hasina: A critical misstep and the end of 15 years ruling Bangladesh https://t.co/kSz9aFgmW9 via @AJEnglish
— J.-P. Janson De Couët (@jpjanson) August 6, 2024
Others were more optimistic. Another Bangladeshi student studying in New York told CNN that “Gen Z made everything possible. They are the future of Bangladesh and they can create a better future.”
Key Points:
- Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled Bangladesh following weeks of deadly protests led by young student demonstrators.
- The military announced the formation of an interim government, while protest leaders called for Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead a temporary administration.
- The protests began over a controversial quota system in civil service jobs and escalated due to high unemployment and government repression.
- Violence erupted, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, leading to Hasina’s abrupt departure.
- The future of Bangladesh remains uncertain, with calls for a civilian-led government and continued demands for justice and equality.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
