Recognizing the rule of Sheikh Hasina

Hasina has long been charged of enforcing harsh authoritarian policies against the media, her political rivals, and critics. Anyone who spoke out against the government under her rule would frequently be kidnapped, executed extrajudicially, or imprisoned. During her reign, obtaining justice and protecting one’s rights were uncommon and appeared to be unachievable goals.

The only way for people to live in peace was to submit to her authority completely, and democracy was reduced to a museum artifact. According to rights groups, there have been hundreds of extrajudicial killings and at least 600 incidents of enforced disappearances since Hasina came back to power in 2009. The security forces of Bangladesh have long been charged with grave mistreatment and torture. The notorious elite police force, Rapid Action Battalion, was sanctioned by the US in 2021 because to its role in extrajudicial killings and human rights crimes.

From demonstrations to popular mobilization: How and why?

To understand why the general public fully supported this uprising, one must comprehend Hasina’s administration. Within a week, the protest—which started out as a student campaign against discrimination—grew into a larger people’s movement. The pivotal moment occurred on July 14, when Hasina was questioned by a reporter regarding the student demonstrations against job quotas that had been going on for more than a week. “If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don’t receive (quota) benefits, then who will?” Hasina said. The Razakars’ grandchildren?

Her remarks almost instantly sparked protests. Her comments were interpreted by the students as a contemptuous reaction to their attempts to confront the “unfair” quota system in government employment, which allotted about thirty percent of posts to the offspring of the liberation fighters of the 1971 war. Soon after, students started demonstrating, walking around the campus of Dhaka University, and shouting the thought-provoking phrase, “Who are you? My name is Razakar”

In an attempt to put an end to the protests, Hasina used the police, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), and the student branch of her party with harsh measures. This strategy caused a great deal of violence on July 16 that left six people dead. More than 200 people were killed over the course of the next four days, mostly civilians and students, when live ammunition was used by armed BCL cadres and police. Hasina concentrated on the destruction to government property, such as the metro train and state-owned television buildings, rather than dealing with the violence. Thus, the demands of the demonstrators gradually came to mean just one thing: Hasina’s resignation.

In the end, this people-driven revolution was unavoidable due to the almost 1,000 student deaths and the roughly 15,000 people—activists, political figures, and common citizens—who were imprisoned. The demonstrators’ only option was to carry on with their uprising, especially the students. Had they stopped protesting, it was obvious that Hasina’s political party, the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL), and state authorities would have kidnapped or killed them.

Bangladesh is undergoing change.

After weeks of student-led protests turned into deadly, countrywide turmoil, it is now clear that Hasina has resigned and fled the nation. Even if the army leader is now in charge, it is obvious that his goal is to hand control over to a civilian administration. He is currently holding talks with the student leaders who spearheaded the protests over the previous three weeks, professors, journalists, representatives of civil society, and opposition organizations.

Student leaders have asked the army general to designate scholar and Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus as head of the transitional administration. How the Army General will handle the current situation is yet unknown, though. One thing is certain: he needs to find a solution since holding onto power indefinitely is not an option. The top objective right now is to set up a caretaker or interim administration in order to prepare for free and fair elections, which should take place sometime in the next three months.

Bangladesh 2.0: A fresh direction

Right now, Bangladesh’s top objective is creating a safe and tranquil environment. Democracy is necessary to provide justice, equality, and human dignity. Representatives from the interim administration representing a range of political beliefs, including rightist, leftist, nationalist, conservative, liberal, secular, and Islamist, should be involved in continuing discussions towards the formation of a democratic government. Bangladesh’s progress toward free and fair elections will be aided by this inclusivity. Furthermore, whomever comes to power needs to amend and revise the current constitution in order to ensure justice and avert a return to tyranny. In order to protect justice and human rights, a strong “checks and balances” system between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is essential. Bangladesh will also need an independent court to preserve a calm atmosphere for a long time.

Bangladesh should now concentrate on strengthening its international cooperation as a relatively tiny, modest, but developing nation in Asia, especially in South Asia. Bangladesh obviously needs more friends and allies than adversaries, whether it is the interim government or a future democratic one. The next administration must choose a strategic course of action to maintain balance in its relations with all of these powers amidst competition from regional and global powers like China, India, the US, and the EU. In order to prevent more turmoil and crises, Bangladesh should refrain from turning into a battleground for powerful and up-and-coming international nations. Maintaining the remittance stream from the Bangladeshi diaspora, safeguarding the apparel sector, and securing foreign direct investment and official development assistance are all essential for ensuring economic stability. Furthermore, protecting fundamental rights and human dignity will be essential to securing long-term stability in Bangladesh.

Read: OPINION – Bangladesh 2.0: A new path for equality, human dignity and justice