Turmoil In Bangladesh Is Far From Over

During the last 24 hours or so, the situation in neighbouring Bangladesh has changed rapidly. The student leaders had earlier announced a long march to Dhaka on Tuesday. However, following the unprecedented violence that rocked the country on Sunday, in which about one hundred lives were lost, they rescheduled the Long March to Monday itself.

Till then, there was no indication of an imminent fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Anticipating trouble, the government announced the closure of all establishments for three days and imposed a curfew from 6 PM, on Sunday.

It also once again blocked mobile internet services and social media. It appeared that the authorities were preparing for the worst. There was nothing to suggest that Hasina might resign.

However, all that changed on Monday morning. A senior aide of Prime Minister Hasina had told news agency ‘AFP’ that Hasina’s resignation was a possibility, although he could not say when and how that might happen. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate issued a Press Release that Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman would address the nation at 3 PM.

Before General Waker finally addressed a press conference sometime after 3 PM, it transpired that PM Hasina had resigned and left the country for a safe destination. The Army Chief announced that the Prime Minister had resigned earlier in the day, that the Army was taking over the administration and that an interim government would be formed within 48 hours. He reassured everyone that justice would be ensured for each of the killings.

General Waker said it was now everyone's responsibility to remain calm. “Together, we hope to go towards a better situation,” he said and added, “I am taking full responsibility.” He further said that the country had suffered a lot, the economy had been hit, and many people had been killed – it was time to stop the violence.

He announced that he had ordered that no member of the security forces would fire upon the agitating students. He hoped the situation would improve after his speech.

He said he would talk to the President to form the interim government and had held talks with senior leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the Jatiya Party, and civil society members. He admitted that he had no discussions with the Awami League. He said that it was now for the students to remain calm and help the Army (in restoring order).

However, the agitation did not stop following the General’s speech. Huge mobs stormed, ransacked, and looted Gana Bhavan – the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Images of people gleefully taking away various items from the house and gobbling the cooked food were flashed all over the media. Mobs also entered and ransacked the Parliament House.

Mobs also set fire to 32, Dhanmondi – the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in that house on August 15, 1975. It was later converted into a museum.

Mobs also attacked and vandalised the residence of Obaidul Hassan, the Chief Justice of Bangladesh. The residences of Asaduzzaman Khan, former Home Minister, and those of some other ministers of the now defunct Cabinet also came under attack. Earlier, at least ten deaths were reported from the Uttara area of Dhaka, when a group of people in civilian attire fired upon the protesters.

There have been reports from outlying districts of violent mobs setting fire to the houses of Awami league MPs, local leaders, and party offices. It has been learnt that till evening, there were sporadic gunfire in lanes and bylanes of Chittagong, Khulna and elsewhere till evening.

Reports of armed mobs attacking houses of Awami League leaders and workers in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Pabna and elsewhere. In a ghastly incident, eight persons died when an Awami League leader’s house was set on fire in Jessore.

Attacks have also been reported on the members of the minority community across the country. Miscreants have reportedly damaged their properties, business establishments and temples. The minorities are living in great fear of arson and fatal attacks.

Meanwhile, Hasina landed at the Hindon airbase near Delhi. According to some media reports, the British Government has rejected her request for political asylum in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, told the ‘BBC’ that his mother will not return to politics. He said that his mother had been considering resigning since Sunday, and had left the country for her safety after her family insisted.

In Dhaka, General Waker will likely meet the students, political leaders, and the intelligentsia to discuss the formation of an interim government. The student leaders are expected to put forward a framework for such a government.

From what has been learnt, the students would demand that the interim government should have no representation of the “fascists” or their supporters. By this, they obviously mean the Awami League.

Nine coordinators of the Students' Movement against Discrimination spoke on a private television channel on Monday evening. ‘Prothom Alo’ reported that they said they wanted such a “systemic change in Bangladesh that there can never arise another Hasina.” They also announced that their movement would continue till all their demands were met.

It is expected that once the Army takes full control of the administration the situation in the country will normalise. However, the scar left by the unprecedented violence which claimed more than 300 lives will take a long time to heal.

The students are rightly against fascism. However, they should also not forget that fundamentalism and religious militancy are no less dangerous for the nation than fascism.

If regressive forces fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Awami League from the political scene, the country will be in danger of losing the economic and social gains made during the last several years under the deposed Prime Minister.

The sudden resignation of Sheikh Hasina has undoubtedly plunged Bangladesh into a period of uncertainty and upheaval. While the Army's takeover and the promise of an interim government may bring a semblance of order, the students must remain vigilant against the dangers of fundamentalism and religious militancy.

The vacuum left by the Awami League could potentially allow regressive forces to rise, threatening the socio-economic progress achieved under Hasina's administration. As Bangladesh navigates this critical juncture, it is imperative for all stakeholders to work together towards a stable and inclusive political future.

The neighbouring countries, especially India, will also need to monitor the situation closely to mitigate any potential regional repercussions of this political turmoil.

Sandip Mitra retired from the Indian Foreign Service. Views expressed are the writer’s own.