Bangladesh is facing a new period of violence as members of a student protest movement that overturned the authoritarian government of Sheikh Hassina in August, clashed again with its supporters, underlining the fragility of a country struggling to rebuild itself.
Violence began on Wednesday, after Awami champion, the political party of Ms Hasina, a former prime minister, said he would address Bangladeshi students and citizens through a sound from India, based on August 5, August 5th. Student protesters said the virtual speech would promote violence. Thousands of students then Bulldozan and set fire to a museum that once was the home of Mrs Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh.
Conflicts between demonstrating students and supporters of the Awami Championship lasted three days before the provisional government led by the Nobel Peace Prize, Muhammad Yunus, established the “Operation Devil Hunt”. The Awami Championship threatened to protest against students’ actions.
Following Ms Hasina’s live speech, in which she reminded Bangladesh the sacrifices her father had made and how the country had flourished during her term, Awami League protesters and supporters in the Dhaka area began attacking between their. Mr Yunus started the police operation on February 8, following reports of violence and injuries.
“The government urges all citizens to comply with the law,” Mr Yunus said in a statement. “The new Bangladesh we work together to build, moving away from the old Bangladesh under fascist domination, will be distinguished by following the rule of law.”
Officials said more than 1,300 people were arrested since the last round of violence – mainly from the Awami Championship – and things were calm for now. Although the provisional government has tried to ban Ms Hasina’s party, the Awami Championship is trying to confirm itself. Members have recently called for protests and strikes this month. They tried to point out groups of students as Islamist fighters, comparing them to Pakistan’s supporters during Bangladesh’s independence war.
The recent descent to violence in Bangladesh threatens to destabilize students’ attempt to build a New Democracy with free and fair elections, calling for a constitution immunized for manipulation and governance without corruption. What started as a July uprising against a job detention system for the offspring of Freedom Fighters broke out in wide rage in Ms Hasina, which had become more and more authoritarian during its 15 -year rule.
More than 800 people died during the student revolution last summer, according to officials. In order to avenge their deaths, the Yunus government has repeatedly pursued Ms Hasina’s issuance of India to stand trial for crimes against humanity. India has not yet provided an answer.
Ms Hasina has participated in Awami League meetings essentially, according to a video posted on Facebook and other clips of her speeches. But her first public address was February 5th.
On the day after Ms Hasina’s sound broadcast, the Yunus government said in a statement that it had “offended and violated” those who had given their lives to the uprising last summer. “Despite abandoning the country, it continues to use the same tone of threats, as it was when it was in power through corruption, terrorism and inhumane repression,” the statement said.
