Bangladesh: A Nation at a Crossroads Amidst Political Violence and Hopes

Another color revolution?

Delved into the tumultuous political climate in Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's sudden resignation and flight to India mark a dramatic turn in the country's leadership. Driven by student-led protests against authoritarian governance and economic strife, Bangladesh faces a critical juncture. This article uncovers the historical roots of unrest, highlights the roles of key figures like Nahid Islam and Mohammad Yunus, and examines the broader implications of continued political rivalry. As the world watches, the youth of Bangladesh demand change, revealing how growth masked by rights suppression leaves a nation on the edge of instability. Discover the demands for reform and the strive for a balanced future in this comprehensive analysis.

Government Overthrown Amidst Violent Protests and Political Upheaval

Prime Minister Hasina has fled to India following days of protests and the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators. The military has dissolved the parliament and announced the formation of a new government and elections. According to my academic colleague in loco for fieldwork, some people are attacking and killing minority groups, burning their houses, and temples and looting their properties. Some political leaders were killed and others fled the country, especially top politicians of the former government.

Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old sociology student and protest coordinator, released an ultimatum video that was given until 3 PM to dissolve Prime Minister Hasina’s "fascist government" or face further protests. For two months, student-led demonstrations have ignited the South Asian country. The protests have resulted in around 300 deaths due to violent police repression, with over 11,000 arrests reported.

On Monday, 5 August, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country by helicopter amidst the turmoil, reportedly heading to neighbouring India. The news sparked celebrations in the streets of Dhaka. In a critical move, General Waker Uz Zaman dissolved the parliament and announced the formation of an interim government, fulfilling the students’ demands. Mohammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pioneer of modern microcredit, has reportedly been chosen to guide the transition towards elections. Yunus, an internationally acclaimed economist from Bangladesh, has been called upon by the students to serve as the principal advisor in the interim government.

According to the Daily Star, Yunus has accepted the role, although it remains uncertain if the military has officially sanctioned his appointment.

What's Happening?

The protests began on June 6, following the Supreme Court of Bangladesh's decision to reintroduce a quota system for government jobs, allocating 30% of positions to the descendants of the "freedom fighters" from the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan (formerly East Pakistan). This quota had already sparked protests in 2018 when it was at 56%. It was then reduced to 35% by eliminating the category of freedom fighters. Current protests led the Supreme Court to revise the decision on July 21, reducing the reserved positions to 5% for veterans and their families.

However, as often happens, the scope of the protests has broadened. Initially opposing the quota system, which students viewed as disrespectful to their merits, the protests expanded to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina, the dissolution of parliament, and an end to police repression and the ruling Awami League party. The party is also blamed for the growing economic difficulties and rampant unemployment affecting the younger generation.

Protesters are calling for an end to the privileges of one category of citizens over others and opposing the increasingly authoritarian government of Sheikh Hasina, who won a fourth term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition. Among the opposition groups is the BNP, whose leader is expected to be released from prison soon and may hold consultations with top military officials to navigate the transition towards new elections.

Who is Sheikh Hasina?

Born 76 years ago in the Dominion of Pakistan—an entity formed after the post-colonial partition of India—Sheikh Hasina comes from a family that has profoundly influenced Bangladeshi politics. Her life has been intertwined with the history of a country she has led since 2009 (and previously from 1996 to 2001), making her the longest-serving Prime Minister in the nation's history.

Her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was the leader who declared independence from Pakistan in 1971 and the founder of the Awami League. He served as Prime Minister and later as President but was violently deposed and assassinated during a military coup in 1975, which also resulted in the massacre of most of his family. Only Hasina and her sister Rehana survived, as they were in Germany at the time. This event profoundly influenced Hasina's political career.

Afterwards, she lived in exile in India, where, in 1981, she assumed leadership of the Awami League, which continued to oppose the BNP, the party that came to power after the coup, led by Ziaur Rahman. The nationalists rolled back the secular state established by the Awami League and contributed to the Islamization of the majority-Muslim country. Ziaur Rahman was also deposed and killed in a coup in 1981. Since then, the country has been caught in a cycle of instability, with 25 successful or attempted coups occurring between 1975 and 2011, and Hasina was imprisoned multiple times.

From 1991, with the restoration of constitutional order and the election of Zia, Hasina alternated in power with her rival, who is the widow of the assassinated President Rahman. Hasina governed from 1996 to 2001 until Zia was re-elected. In 2007, on the eve of the elections, the military stormed her home and arrested her. Released from prison less than a year later, she won the elections in 2008, followed by reconfirmation in 2014 and 2018. However, in the latter two elections, opposition parties boycotted the vote, resulting in parliaments composed almost entirely of Awami League members.

This pattern of rivalry has polarized the country and turned power struggles into a personal contest between the two families that have dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades. Despite this, during her lengthy tenure, Hasina has lifted millions out of absolute poverty, significantly increasing per capita GDP and improving conditions for women. The clothing sector, in particular, has benefited, making Bangladesh the world's third-largest exporter in this industry. Additionally, Hasina has cultivated positive international relations with major neighbours such as China and India, as well as other global powers, and manifested interest in joining the BRICS.

What are the Roots of Discontent?

The Hasina government is accused of authoritarianism and repression, particularly in limiting freedom of the press and undermining human rights. Over her four terms, the judiciary has been used as a tool to suppress dissent, with numerous reports of attacks on opposition figures and journalists, as well as extrajudicial killings. This troubling trend has long been highlighted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which called for reforms to restore political dialogue, pluralism, and participation at the start of Hasina's fourth term.

The 170 million citizens of Bangladesh seem to remain hostages to the historical struggle for independence, a theme still prevalent today, as evidenced by the quota system for government jobs. The families of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia continue to vie for the title of national founders. Supporters of the BNP argue that Ziaur Rahman, Zia’s husband, was the first to declare independence from Pakistan, not Hasina’s father. Moreover, it is alleged that Prime Minister Hasina has relied on elements of the Pakistani army to suppress opposition, and during the current protests, she referred to demonstrators as “razakars,” a term for Bengali militia members who supported the Pakistani army in the war for independence.

Bangladesh is unfortunately no stranger to outbreaks of political violence, repression, and unrest, as seen in recent months. Yet, who would have expected this? The country is in a better economic shape. The international community, particularly Western nations that have profited from cheap labour, especially under Hasina's leadership, has turned a blind eye to the underlying issues of dissent suppression, reduced freedoms, and institutionalised violence. Concerningly, it has fallen to the youth of Bangladesh to remind everyone, especially democracies, that economic growth achieved at the expense of rights conceals a fragile and unstable reality, ready to explode.

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