Bangladesh Crisis: PM Sheikh Hasina Resigned and Fled the Country!

KAKALI DAS

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and reportedly fled the country on a military helicopter, which was flown to India.

The student protests, which began in July over government job quotas, culminated on Monday, August 5, with the head of state leaving the country.

On Sunday, at least 91 people were killed, including 13 police officers, and hundreds more were injured in a new wave of violence between police and anti-government protesters.

Bangladesh Crisis: PM Sheikh Hasina Resigned and Fled the Country

Street protests are not uncommon in Bangladesh, but the recent violence has been described as some of the worst in living memory. On Sunday, the death toll was the highest recorded in a single day from any protest in Bangladesh’s recent history.

Since the protests began in July, 300 people have been killed. So, what led the daughter of the country’s founding president and the world’s longest-serving female head of government to resign?

On Sunday, an indefinite nationwide curfew was imposed starting at 6:00 PM to curb violence. Despite this, hundreds of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Dhaka, defying the curfew and marching. Unlike the deadly crackdown in July, soldiers and police were less intervening on Sunday.

According to AFP, demonstrators in Dhaka were surrounded by a tightly packed crowd that cheered them on as they waved a Bangladeshi flag from atop an armoured car, while soldiers stood by and watched. The chant “Sheikh Hasina is a dictator” has become popular across the country.

Then a respected former army chief called for the immediate withdrawal of troops and for the protests to be allowed to continue. This is significant because, over the past month, Sheikh Hasina had relied heavily on the military to maintain her grip on power. However, that support appeared to wane over the weekend, culminating on August 5th when the army reportedly gave Hasina a 45-minute ultimatum to resign.

Bangladeshi army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has announced that the army will establish an interim government and has urged protesters to return to the path of peace.

So, what happened in July and what were the protests about? The students initially protested against a reservation system announced by the government, which allocated 30% of government jobs to the families of veterans who fought in the Bangladeshi War of Independence against Pakistan in 1971.

The protesting students argued that the system was discriminatory and favoured supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party. They demanded a merit-based system to replace the quota.

Over the past month, security forces have used live ammunition, tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets, and shotgun pellets to disperse the protesters. Police were also given shoot-on-sight orders. Additionally, the Internet was shut down, making reliable information difficult to obtain.

Human Rights Watch quoted a Dhaka resident who recently left the country as saying, “The security forces just kept shooting. They were targeting young people and even shot at bystanders who tried to protect the students.”

The Supreme Court has since overturned the reservation system and ruled that 93% of government jobs will be merit-based. Although the protesters’ initial demands were largely met, the movement evolved into a broader anti-government campaign, demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation due to the excessive violence used to suppress the initial protests.

The United Nations also called for an end to the shocking violence and urged restraint from Bangladeshi politicians and security forces. The UN’s Human Rights Chief stated, “The government must stop targeting those participating peacefully in the protest movement, immediately release those arbitrarily detained, restore full internet access, and create conditions for meaningful dialogue.”

Sheikh Hasina initially remained defiant, describing those protesting against her administration as terrorist’s intent on destabilizing the nation.

But why are the people of Bangladesh so outraged? The BBC reports that the protests have been brewing for a long time. Despite Bangladesh being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and the region, experts note that this growth has not translated into job opportunities for university graduates.

Estimates suggest that 18 million young Bangladeshis are still seeking employment, with university graduates facing higher rates of unemployment compared to their less-educated peers.

On one hand, Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule has seen Bangladesh transform through the construction of new roads, bridges, factories, and even metro rails. When the government struggles to create new jobs, it focuses on large infrastructure projects to keep the economy moving. The country’s per capita income has tripled over the past decade, and the World Bank estimates that more than 25 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the last 20 years.

On the other hand, her 15-year rule has also been marked by accusations of forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the suppression of opposition figures and critics.

She denies these charges, and her government often accuses opposition parties of fuelling protests. However, critics argue that the country’s growth has primarily benefited those close to the Prime Minister and the ruling Awami League Party, with numerous corruption allegations now surrounding the government.

In addition to the corruption allegations, there are concerns that Hasina is becoming increasingly autocratic, with economic success achieved at the expense of democracy and human rights.

In fact, Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia Deputy Director of Human Rights, told the BBC that there has been no credible, free, and fair polling process in three consecutive elections.

The main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the elections in 2014 and 2024, arguing that free and fair elections are not possible under Sheikh Hasina’s rule and calling for a neutral caretaker administration. Hasina rejected all of these demands.

Monday proved to be a day of rapid and crucial developments, possibly even a turning point in the country’s history. Sheikh Hasina, the 76-year-old daughter of Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had been ruling the country since 2009, resigned and fled.

The announcement came from army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman during his address to the nation. He stated that an interim government would be formed and assured that justice would be served for every killing. He said, “It is now everyone’s responsibility to remain calm. Together, we hope to move towards a better situation. I am taking full responsibility.”

He also remarked that the country has suffered greatly, the economy has been impacted, and many people have been killed. “It’s time to stop the violence. I hope the situation will improve after my speech,” he said.

He stated that he would speak with the President to form an interim government and hold talks with the main opposition parties and civil society members, but not with the Awami League Party. He also noted that if the situation improves, there would be no need for a state of emergency, and vowed that the new authorities would prosecute those responsible for the murders during the recent deadly protests.

The situation remains fluid, and we are still awaiting a response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to determine the country’s reaction. For now, with Bangladesh on the brink of instability, its head of state having fled, and discussions of an interim government, India’s Border Security Force has ordered a high alert along the entire Indo-Bangladesh border.

The Border Security Force has deployed formations across the approximately 4,000-kilometer border that India shares with Bangladesh, including in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram.

The BSF has instructed all field commanders to be on the ground and to immediately deploy all personnel along the border, according to a senior officer speaking to PTI.

Earlier, last week, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the Trinamool Congress-led state government would provide shelter to people from violence-stricken Bangladesh if they seek refuge, in accordance with the UN resolution that neighbours should respect refugees.

On Monday, Mamata Banerjee appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and avoid provocation. She declined to comment on the developments in Bangladesh, stating that it is a matter for the Ministry of External Affairs to address.

The question now is about the diplomatic implications for the government. A report by The Financial Express highlights India’s vested interest in maintaining stability and security in Bangladesh as a neighbour: “The rise of radical elements, the influx of refugees, and potential cross-border tensions are all concerns India must navigate carefully. Moreover, India’s response to the crisis will be closely watched by other regional players such as China and Russia, who have so far remained silent.”

The Financial Express report further notes that India’s diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh has been robust, with multiple visits from Hasina to New Delhi. However, recent events require a reassessment of India’s strategy, as ensuring a stable and friendly government in Dhaka is crucial for India’s regional security and economic interests.

05-08-2024

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