Washington:

US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has expressed grave concern over the recent unrest in Bangladesh following the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

In an official statement, he urged the Bangladeshi government to uphold human rights, guarantee legal protections, and end the wave of violence targeting Hindus and other minority groups.

“The ongoing violence against Hindus and others across Bangladesh is unacceptable and must end immediately. I strongly urge the government of Bangladesh to take decisive steps to reduce tensions peacefully now,” he said.

The Illinois Congressman highlighted the need for Bangladesh to safeguard peaceful protests and ensure the arrested individuals receive proper legal representation.

“The government of Bangladesh must uphold and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights to peaceful protest and proper legal representation,” he stated, adding that such measures are vital to de-escalate the current tensions.

The unrest stems from the sedition charges filed against Chinmoy Krishna Das for allegedly raising a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25. His arrest on November 25 sparked protests, culminating in violent clashes between his followers and law enforcement outside the Chattogram Court Building on November 27, which resulted in the death of a lawyer.

The situation has worsened following additional arrests.

According to ISKCON Kolkata, two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were detained on November 29 after visiting Chinmoy Krishna Das in custody. The organisation’s Vice President, Radha Raman, also claimed that rioters vandalised an ISKCON centre in Bangladesh during the unrest.

Adding to the controversy, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council condemned what they described as a “false and harassing case” against 70 minority lawyers and two journalists accused of fabricated crimes, including vandalism and bomb explosions. The council has called for the immediate withdrawal of these charges, stating they were designed to hinder the sedition case against Chinmoy Krishna Das and suppress related news coverage.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also voiced concern over escalating violence and extremist rhetoric in Bangladesh, emphasising that it has consistently raised the issue of targeted attacks on minorities with Dhaka.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu priest and a religious minority leader in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka amid tensions over minority rights in the country that has seen widespread political violence since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. 

The arrest follows protests led by the Hindu community in the city of Rangpur, located nearly 300 km north of Dhaka, demanding stronger legal protections and a ministry dedicated to minority affairs. 

“I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in these difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. Kind attention,” wrote Radharamn Das, ISKCON spokesperson, tagging External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

I just received the shocking news that Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk & the face and leader of Bangladeshi minorities in this difficult times, has been arrested by the Dhaka police and taken to an undisclosed location. Kind attention @ihcdhaka @DrSJaishankar… pic.twitter.com/J9MszoBUvy

— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) November 25, 2024

While the Bangladeshi authorities have not issued an official statement, reports suggest Brahmachari was detained at Dhaka airport earlier this week. His arrest comes after a sedition case was filed against him earlier this month, allegedly for his outspoken stance against violence targeting Hindus.

Hindus comprise approximately 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million people. Since the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina, the new military-backed interim government led by Mohammed Yunus has faced criticism for failing to curb a spike in violence against minorities.

In recent months, Hindu businesses, homes, and temples have been vandalised, with the unrest worsening since Sheikh Hasina’s departure.  Earlier this month, sedition charges were filed against 19 people who participated in a minority rights rally in Chittagong. 

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari slammed the Yunus government in Bangladesh, adding that Chinmoy Brahmachari is leading a “fight for survival” of Hindu minorities.

“Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh. He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md Yunus’s ‘Radical’ Regime may stoop to any level, even eliminate ‘perceived threats’ to its authority. I urge 
@DrSJaishankar  Ji to kindly take note of the matter and take urgent steps,” Mr Adhikari posted on X.

Renowned firebrand Hindu Leader; Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu has been abducted by the Detective Branch at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh.
He is leading the fight for the survival & dignity of the Hindu Minorities of Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi Sanatani Community fear that Md… pic.twitter.com/n5Bb6Zk2JM

— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) November 25, 2024

Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, described the arrest as “a targeted move to stifle voices of protest.” 

“Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from Islamists. Tallest leader of the Hindu community, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is believed to have been taken to Detective Branch of Yunus Regime,” Mr Gupta wrote. 

Hindu leader and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is reported arrested in Dhaka by Yunus Regime Police.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was charged with sedition after he led a massive rally of Hindus protesting targeted hate attacks and demanding protection from…

— Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) November 25, 2024

The interim regime in Bangladesh had announced plans to unveil an election roadmap, promising reforms in the electoral system. However, critics remain sceptical of its commitment to democracy, especially as reports of targeted attacks against minorities continue to emerge.

During a speech, Mohammed Yunus pointed to the government’s security measures during Durga Puja, celebrated at over 32,000 venues nationwide, as evidence of its commitment to protecting minorities. Yet, activists argue these measures are inadequate.
 

Dhaka:

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Thursday called on interim government’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and reiterated India’s commitment to working with Bangladesh to fulfil shared aspirations of peoples of the two countries for peace, security and development.

The interim government headed by 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was installed days after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5 following unprecedented anti-government student-led protests over a controversial quota system in government jobs.

“HC Pranay Verma paid his introductory call on H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB today. Reiterated India’s commitment to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of peoples of India-Bangladesh for peace, security and development,” the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a post on X.

HC Pranay Verma paid his introductory call on H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB today.

Reiterated India’s committment to working with Bangladesh to fulfill shared aspirations of peoples of for peace, security and development. @MEAIndiapic.twitter.com/Ft77NopmM0

— India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) August 22, 2024

The Daily Star newspaper reported that Mr Verma expressed concern over the security of its embassy and other establishments in Bangladesh, including its High Commission in Dhaka, during his meeting with Yunus at state guesthouse Jamuna.

Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, said that the government has already stepped up security of the entire diplomatic zone, the paper reported.

In addition to security issues, the Indian envoy discussed the goal of shared prosperity between the two nations, reaffirming India’s strong belief in a prosperous and stable Bangladesh, the digitalized private wire service United News of Bangladesh reported.

They exchanged views on issues of shared interest and discussed avenues to further strengthen people-to-people ties, it said.

India has the largest visa operations in Bangladesh and 16 lakh people visited India last year. Of them, 60 per cent visited for tourism purposes, 30 per cent for medical purposes, and 10 per cent for other purposes, according to the wire service.

On the flood issue, Mr Alam, quoting the envoy, said water was “released automatically” due to the water level rising.

The High Commissioner described the flood in Tripura as something “very unprecedented,” causing displacement of 50,000 people. He said it has created havoc on both sides of Bangladesh and India.

Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh is a “big family” and laid emphasis on high-level collaboration on water issues and on activating this in emergency situations, it said.

He said water-sharing of the joint rivers can be resolved through working together and referred to the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, it added.

During the meeting, minority issues were also discussed.

The chief adviser also talked about BIMSTEC and SAARC, and laid emphasis on bringing young people together in South Asia.

Muhammad Yunus also talked about his personal good relations with India where he has many friends. Yunus Center is operational in 18 Indian universities.

He also talked about a world of three zeros – the new economics of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions’.

Last week, Mr Verma paid a courtesy call on the interim government’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain who said Dhaka wants to work closely with New Delhi to promote bilateral relations. Hossain, however, had cautioned that deposed premier Hasina’s public statement from India is “not conducive” to fostering better bilateral ties.

Mr Verma attended the oath-taking ceremony of the interim government last Thursday.

During his meeting with the Indian diplomat, Hossain briefed him about the current situation in Bangladesh. He mentioned that Bangladesh witnessed a second liberation last week through a mass uprising spearheaded by valiant students.

PM Modi had extended best wishes to Muhammad Yunus when he took oath as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, hoping for an early return to normalcy and ensuring the safety of Hindus and other minority communities in that country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

School girls sit in a classroom, in Dhaka, on August 7, 2024, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Bangladesh on Sunday (August 18, 2024) reopened all educational institutions, including universities, secondary schools and colleges, across the country after more than a month of closure due to violence centring the student-led protests that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The educational institutions in Bangladesh were closed indefinitely on July 17 to ensure the safety of students in the wake of clashes that erupted during the recent movement demanding reform of the job quota system.

The Ministry of Education on Thursday (August 15, 2024) issued a directive to reopen the institutions under its jurisdiction. All the educational institutions reopened on Sunday, after a month of closure.

According to Somoy Television, a Bengali news channel based in Dhaka, “All concerned have been asked to take necessary steps to resume academic activities in all the educational institutions from August 18 following the instruction of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus,” a notification signed by Deputy Secretary Mosammat Rahima Akhtar, said on August 15.

In the morning, school students in uniform were seen going to their institutions, many accompanied by guardians, the Daily Star reported.

The 1971 war | The liberation of Bangladesh, 50 years ago

Many points of Dhaka city are witnessing severe traffic congestion due to the reopening of educational institutions. The working week is from Sunday to Thursday in Bangladesh.

Initially, classes were scheduled to resume on August 4 in all government primary schools, except in the 12 city corporations and Narsingdi municipality, but this was also postponed.

Meanwhile, the postponed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will be resumed from September 11. According to the revised routine, the exams will be completed on October 23.

Classes at public universities have been suspended since July 1 when teachers went on strike in protest of a new pension scheme.

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, the educational institutions were declared open on August 7, but the academic activities could not be resumed fully due to the low attendance of students.

The United Nations report stressed the need for a rapid restoration of law and order. File
| Photo Credit: AP

The United Nations said on Friday (August 16, 2024) there were strong indications that the Bangladeshi security forces used unnecessary force in tackling the student-led uprising that ousted premier Sheikh Hasina.

Ms. Hasina, 76, fled to neighbouring India by helicopter last week as demonstrators flooded Dhaka’s streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule of 15 years.

More than 450 people were killed in the weeks of protests leading up to her ousting on August 5.

Also Read:Analysis: Why Hasina fell

“There are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation,” the UN Human Rights office said in a preliminary report.

“Alleged violations included extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and severe restrictions on exercise of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.”

The report stressed the need for a rapid restoration of law and order, and the need to prevent further loss of life, violence and acts of reprisals.

The interim government replacing Ms. Hasina, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has invited UN investigators to probe the violent “atrocities” that accompanied her ousting.

Mr. Yunus, 84, returned from Europe last week to head a temporary administration that faces the monumental challenge of steering democratic reforms.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk said the transition in Bangladesh was a chance to ensure governance is anchored in rights and the rule of law.

“The transition ahead presents an historic opportunity to reform and revitalise the country’s institutions, to restore fundamental freedoms and civic space, and to give all in Bangladesh a part in building the future,” he said.

“Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward, and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process,” he said.

New Delhi:

A BSF officer is winning hearts for his calmness while explaining hundreds of Bangladesh refugees gathered at India’s border why they cannot let them in. The video, shared by former Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora, shows the officer speaking to a group of refugees in a border area in West Bengal’s Coochbehar. 

Speaking in Bengali, the officer is heard saying, “We all know the problems you are facing. You have come here, but a discussion is required. The problem cannot be solved in this manner. We cannot let you in even if we want.”

This video of a #BSF officer calmly explaining to Bangladeshis why they can’t enter India illegally is heartbreaking, inspirational & reassuring all at once.

Heartbreaking to see the desperation; inspirational to witness the officer’s calm composure; reassuring to know the… pic.twitter.com/oOxqF7oTid

— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) August 11, 2024

As the gathering protests, the officer continues, “Please listen to me, nothing will come out of shouting. The whole world knows your problem. But a discussion is needed. Once the discussion happens, we will see how we can protect you. You can see, senior officers are here. But if you say that we have to allow you immediately, is that possible?”

“I request you on behalf of my country. Your problems would be addressed through a discussion. We request you to go back, a solution cannot be find in an hour or two,” the officer is heard saying in a video shared by The Indian Express.

Voices from the crowd are heard pleading with the BSF personnel to let them. “They will burn our homes, we will face atrocities,” the crowd shouts.

The BSF officer says the officers know they are in trouble. “My seniors have had discussions with your force. They will listen to your problems. They have asked you to return,” he says.

Praising the officer for his composure, Mr Deora said in a post on X, “This video of a BSF officer calmly explaining to Bangladeshis why they can’t enter India illegally is heartbreaking, inspirational & reassuring all at once.”

“Heartbreaking to see the desperation; inspirational to witness the officer’s calm composure; reassuring to know the government is committed to securing India’s borders,” said the Rajya Sabha MP, who switched from the Congress to the Eknath Shinde-led Sena earlier this year.

Bangladeshi nationals fleeing violence and arson in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as Prime Minister have gathered at India’s borders in several areas. The BSF is keeping close vigil on the borders. In Bangladesh, members of the Hindu community are holding demonstrations to protest against the attacks on homes and businesses of Hindus. 

As an interim government led by Nobel peace prize winner takes charge of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India hopes for an early return to normalcy in Bangladesh and called upon the government to ensure the safety of Hindus.

My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Mr Yunus has condemned attacks on the minority communities and urged the youth to protect Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm. “Are they not the people of this country? You have been able to save the country; can’t you save some families?…You must say — no one can harm them. They are my brothers; we fought together, and we will stay together,” he has said.

Dhaka:

Day after protests in Bangaldesh forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as the prime minister, students have now targeted the Supreme Court and are demanding the resignation of all judges, including the Chief Justice.

Hundreds of protesters, largely comprising students, have surrounded the Bangladesh Supreme Court, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Justice. The situation escalated rapidly, with reports suggesting the Chief Justice may have fled the premises.

The protests were sparked by a full-court meeting called by the Chief Justice without consulting the newly formed interim government. Student protestors alleged that the judges of the court are part of a conspiracy, prompting outrage and demands for accountability.

As tensions mounted, the scheduled full-court meeting was abruptly called off. Protestors, undeterred, continued to besiege the Supreme Court, giving the Chief Justice a one-hour ultimatum to step down.

Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has agreed to resign “in principle” after an ultimatum to do so from protesters, broadcaster Jamuna TV reported. He was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina

The fresh protests come days after a student-led uprising against government hiring rules resulted in Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus taking charge of a caretaker government.

At least 450 people were killed in more than a month of deadly protests that ended the autocratic rule of 76-year-old prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina faces allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering and corruption, and must face the law, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party said.

Hasina, one of Asia’s longest-serving leaders, resigned and fled Bangladesh on August 5 under pressure from millions of protesters who had taken to the streets for weeks to demand she step down.

An interim government was appointed in Bangladesh Thursday, led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. Under the constitution, an election needs to be called within 90 days, although Yunus, the military – which backs the interim government – and the president haven’t commented on when elections will be held.

As dawn approached on Saturday morning of July 20, 2024 a disturbing scene unfolded in Monsur Nagar Housing Estate in Savar upazila, on the outskirts of Dhaka. Some eight to 10 plainclothes men identifying themselves as being from the detective branch (DB) of Bangladesh Police, surrounded the home of Abul Khair, a 70-year-old, who had fought in the 1971 war for freedom. The officers, armed and aggressive, began shouting and demanded that Khair open the gate, threatening to break it down if he did not. Soon, they forcefully entered, seized the family’s phones and detained Khair’s two sons, Arif Sohel, 27, and Mohammad Ali Jowel.

While Jowel was released, Sohel went missing for the next 36 hours. No police station the family approached denied his detention; nor did they show his arrest, says the family. He was allegedly beaten up and not given food. For this brief spell, the family says Sohel was another victim of ‘enforced disappearance’, a common tactic the people of Bangladesh say the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government used, to suppress dissent. Then, he was officially shown as arrested and placed on a seven-day remand in a case his family says is fabricated. Sohel’s father says, “The behavior of the law enforcement agencies was similar to that of the Pakistani military during the Liberation War.”

Sohel is a student and convener of the Jahangir Nagar University of Students Against Discrimination movement that swept the country from July 1. The students were protesting the June 5 Dhaka Supreme Court ruling to reinstate a 30% government job quota for descendants of 1971 independence war veterans (the quota had been withdrawn in 2018).

Student unrest

Like many other movements across the world, including India’s Mandal Commission and China’s Tiananmen square, students across Bangladesh took to the streets in the thousands. They demanded the abolition of the quota and the establishment of a merit-based system instead. Underlying the anti-quota protests though, was the fear that members of the Awami League, the political party that led Bangladesh’s independence movement against Pakistan, would benefit.

The student protests were met with a brutal reaction from the government. Citizens went through raids, in which thousands of students, opposition leaders, and others were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Students Against Discrimination movement. A curfew was imposed on the midnight of July 19. Images of the army and police firing on students came out of the country, with India saying this was Bangladesh’s “internal matter”, the same way that Hasina’s government had described India’s Citizenship Amendment Act in 2022. In fact, Hasina was the first state guest to visit India after the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power for a third term this year.

When violence broke out, about 300 Indian students who had been pursuing MBBS degrees, returned home. The internet was cut, and it was difficult to reach friends and relatives. So far, 439 people have died in the violence, as per Prothom Alo, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh.

Under pressure from students, the Supreme Court scaled back the quota on July 21 to 5%, with an additional 2% for ethnic minorities. Sifat Hasan Sakib, one of the organisers from Dhaka’s government-run Jagannath University, says, “We fought against discrimination, and students won the fight, even at the cost of lives. We want a peaceful environment on university campuses, which has been absent for a long time due to the student wing of the Awami League, Bangladesh Chhatra League. Regular students’ union elections can play a crucial role in protecting the rights of students.”

Students say the Bangladesh Chhatra League dominates student life on campus, doling out privileges only to its members, and capturing posts that no other student organisation was allowed to hold. Abdullah Al Mamun, a recent graduate from the English Department of Dhaka College, expressed his frustration, saying, “There was no alternative but to take to the streets in protest…. Sheikh Hasina would often boast about economic development, but at the same time, she allowed Chhatra League to dismantle the education system in Bangladesh.”

He says the integrity of job examinations was severely compromised. “It was common for exam paper leaks. Moreover, the viva boards were biased, often favoring candidates affiliated with Chhatra League. This left general students with little hope of securing a job. The system was rigged against us.”

Bangladesh’s tipping point

Similar to how the 1857 uprising was sparked by a long history of disenchantment with British oppression, the students’ movement emerged from deep-seated political and social angst against authoritarianism and human rights violations. Thousands joined from across the country, and it was so strong it compelled Hasina to resign in the presence of the three service chiefs and flee the country, on August 5, 2024. The former Prime Minister, elected for the fifth time in January 2024, arrived in India and continues to be there, her future plans uncertain.

When she left her official residence, Ganabhaban, the public stormed its lavish premises. The world saw images of people making off with suitcases and deep freezers, but also goats, fish, and a German Shepherd pup. Statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father, considered the founding father of Bangladesh, were vandalised, the video going viral.

The army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, called for peace, and on August 6, 2024 it was announced that Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old pioneer of microfinance who won the Nobel prize in 2006, would lead an interim government, with 16 advisers, including two student representatives. The Hasina government had filed over 200 cases against the Grameen Bank founder, for corruption.

It wasn’t just student politics that brought the Hasina government down. According to Bangladeshi human rights organisations, security forces have committed over 600 enforced disappearances since 2009. While some people were later released, produced in court, or said to have died during an armed exchange with security forces, nearly 100 people remain missing, they say.

These actions angered people. For instance, Brigadier General (suspended) Abdullahil Amaan Azmi was released from the detention centre known as Aynaghar (House of Mirrors), after eight years of captivity in the early hours of August 6. Azmi is the son of late Ghulam Azam, the former ameer (chief) of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a religion-based political party that was started in 1941 and has its roots in present-day Pakistan. He was allegedly forcibly picked up from his residence on August 23, 2016, and had since been missing. The Hasina government had repeatedly denied the existence of Aynaghar and 23 other detention camps, where political opponents were allegedly kept.

The Hasina government had, on August 1, 2024, banned the Jamaat-e-Islami, saying it was a threat to public security. The Jamaat is a key ally of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who was then in jail on charges of corruption, but now released. “They (Jamaat and BNP) just used the students as their shield,” Hasina had said, when Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro called on her, news agency PTI reported.

The Jamaat’s central executive committee member and the party’s media and publicity secretary, Matiur Rahman Akanda, calls the 2024 election a “dummy election”.

After the fall of the Hasina regime, families of political prisoners secretly jailed under her rule have gathered in front of Director General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) headquarters. Sanjida Islam Tulee, co-founder of Mayer Dak, an organization of the families of the victims of ‘enforced disappearances’, says, “We have learnt from recently released former army officer Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi that there are many others in that Aynaghor. We went to the DGFI office to find out who is detained there and to talk about the issue.” They demand that the prisoners be released together instead of separately.

Media strangulation

The Bangladeshi media have often accused the government of stifling freedom of speech and assembly. According to a research paper by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), at least 451 journalists were sued under the Digital Security Act (DSA) since its inception and 255 of them were sued for their journalistic reports. Among the accused, 209 journalists are associated with national-level Bangladesh media and 197 with regional media outlets. The CGS found that at least 4,520 people have been charged in 1,436 cases filed between October 2018 and September 2023.

Raihan Hossain, a journalist from Jago News, an online news outlet in Bangladesh, says journalists in Bangladesh have faced huge challenges, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues like the extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the corruptions.

He says, “Journalists who dared to investigate and report on these issues often faced severe threats. The powers-that-be would go to great lengths to silence us, using intimidation and fear to prevent any negative coverage. It was a constant battle, and many of us were put in positions where our safety was at risk simply for trying to do our jobs.”

He adds that the situation was further complicated by the government’s blatant ‘favouritism’ for certain media outlets. “Newspapers that aligned with the government’s agenda were granted numerous facilities and privileges, while those that attempted to maintain journalistic integrity were often deprived of essential resources. This made it increasingly difficult for independent journalism to thrive, as the government’s influence over the media landscape created an environment where only the voices that supported the official narrative could prosper.”

A rise in minority violence

After Hasina’s fall, there has also been a rise in violence against the Hindu minority. According to Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), 200-300 Hindu homes and businesses were vandalized, and 15-20 temples were damaged. Many have been injured.

Rana Dasgupta, the general secretary of the BHBCUC Oikya Parishad says, “Some of those whose homes were attacked may be directly involved in Awami League politics, but 98% are Hindus not involved in political activity.” He hopes the interim government will restore stability and protect minorities. Student and Jamaat leaders have put out statements asking supporters to guard temples and churches as diplomats and rights groups expressed concerns over reports of attacks on minority groups.

Monzurul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, says they do not consider any group a minority or majority in the country: “Everyone is equal,” he says, despite the group’s belief that the reason for Hasina’s political dominance in the country was India. Hindus, who form 8% of the population of over 17 crore, were traditionally Awami League supporters.

Photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam says, “India is effectively Bangladesh’s only neighbour. It is also a major trade partner. It makes no sense for Bangladesh not to have a cordial relationship with India.” He hopes though that a future relationship will be based on equality, rather than that of a ‘big brother’.

New Delhi:

Days after his mother’s ouster, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and former adviser Sajeeb Wazed has told NDTV that he would consider returning to the country and leading the Awami League if the party’s workers wanted him to.

In an exclusive interview on Friday, Mr Wazed said that his mother does not want to live in exile and would like to go back to Bangladesh. He also insisted that Ms Hasina wanted to retire for the last two terms as prime minister, but did not rule out her return to active politics.  

“I spoke with her (Ms Hasina) last night. She has no plans as of yet. She’s staying put. All the rumours about her applying for visas or asylum… none of those are true. What she really wants is to eventually go back to Bangladesh. Whether that’s to be in politics or to retire, it doesn’t matter. It’s her home. She has grown up there. This was going to be her last term anyway, she’s 76 years old. She wants to retire in her village home in Tungipara (in south Bangladesh). That has been her dream. She does not want to live in exile outside Bangladesh,” Mr Wazed said. 

When he was asked whether this would mean that Ms Hasina could return to active politics, Mr Wazed, who is an IT entrepreneur and lives in the US, said she would be the best person to answer but she was never in public life for herself. 

“She was in politics for her country, not because she wanted to be in power. She has been wanting to retire for the last two terms. In fact, she has been pushing me before every election to come and join politics. No one in our family has ever had ambition for power or politics,” he claimed.

So if he didn’t take her up on the offer at the time, would he do so now, considering that workers in his mother’s party, the Awami League, would be looking for leadership at this critical juncture? When this question was posed to Mr Wazed, he said that he has become the face of the party by default for now. 

“I guess by default I am, you know, I have become the face right now. I never wanted this. I have no political ambition, but as soon as I learned that our party leaders were being attacked, their homes burned down, I said I cannot just abandon them. So I am in touch with many of our party leaders. Almost all our ministers’ homes have been burned down, our ancestral home has been burned down… So in this situation, I will do whatever it takes. The Awami League still has tens of millions of followers, it is not going to disappear overnight,” he asserted. 

‘Workers Will Decide’

Stating that the Awami League could win the elections, as and when they are held, because of Ms Hasina’s record of development, the entrepreneur said that the party is a democratic one and the workers and leaders will decide who will be at the helm. 

“If the Awami League activists…they all demand that I come, I will think about it. It depends on the members of the party… If the party demands that she (Ms Hasina) be the leader, then she will be the leader. As I said, we are a democratic party. It is totally up to the members of the party to decide who their leader is going to be,” he said.

‘Government Without Mandate’

On the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Mr Wazed said it has no mandate and the constitution provides for elections to be held within 90 days.

“The interim government has made no attempt to communicate with us. Today’s statement from  one of the advisers… it is unfortunate they they have taken the exact same playbook that has failed before. They have been placed in power by a tiny minority and perhaps with foreign support. They don’t have the mandate of the people of Bangladesh at all, and they think they will reform the country without a popular mandate… This is an unconstitutional, hand-picked government and it is in their interest to hold elections as soon as possible,” he alleged.

Asked whether his mother would be willing to return to Bangladesh to face charges, he said she had nothing to be afraid of. 

“During the last military takeover, they arrested my mother. They put her on trial and she was acquitted on all charges. My mother is not afraid of that. They want to play that game. We can play it again. What will happen if they try to put Sheikh Hasina on trial? Well, they can find out. My mother has done nothing illegal. She has done nothing wrong. If there are people in our government that have acted outside the law, those are the people that need to be tried. You cannot blame my mother,” he stressed. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
| Photo Credit: PTI

GUWAHATI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (August 7) did not rule out the possibility of some extremist groups of the northeast setting up bases again in Bangladesh.

He also said the evolving political situation in Bangladesh after the violent fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government could pose a security threat to the region due to the probable displacement of people in the neighbouring country, especially religious minorities.

“The situation in Bangladesh is worrying for us for two reasons. If the unrest continues, many people will be desperate to cross over into India. This makes it imperative for us to secure our borders,” the Chief Minister told journalists at an event in eastern Assam’s Golaghat district.

“Moreover, extremist outfits of the northeast may try to exploit the tumultuous situation to set up bases in Bangladesh again, posing a renewed threat to our regional stability. During her tenure as the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina uprooted all the terror groups of the region that were operating from Bangladesh,” Dr. Sarma said.

Eye on ULFA(I)

Barring a few such as the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) headed by the fugitive Paresh Baruah, and Meghalaya’s Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, most extremist groups in the northeast have either been disbanded, or are engaged in talks.

Beginning with Mizoram’s Laldenga and his Mizo National Front, many extremist groups of the northeast carried out hit-and-run operations in India from their bases in Bangladesh. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence allegedly helped these outfits set up hideouts in the country.

The ULFA established camps in Dhaka, Satcherri, and Sherpur in Bangladesh in 1991 and established close ties with the pro-Pakistan Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by Khaleda Zia and other political parties, including the pro-India Awami League.

The ULFA was initially not troubled by the Awami League, which turned hostile toward all extremist groups of the northeast after coming to power in 2009. The leaders and members of most of these outfits were either driven away or handed over to India.

The capture of five members of the Isak-Muivah (I-M) faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in Tripura’s Kailasahar area in October 2009 confirmed the group’s presence in Bangladesh. Caught by Border Security Force personnel after crossing into India, the five had escaped after killing six fellow NSCN (I-M) members at the outfit’s camp in Bangladesh’s Moulvi Bazar district.