Showing posts with label Sheikh Hasina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheikh Hasina. Show all posts

Sunday, 8 September 2024

Bangladesh: One month of hope and despair

A month ago, as Bangladesh teetered on the brink of chaos after the downfall of Sheikh Hasina, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus returned home to steer the nation through political turbulence.

It was a dramatic turnaround for Yunus, who faced relentless legal peril at home but ultimately emerged as the savior of a scarred nation. Many feared that Yunus, the nemesis of Hasina, would land in jail during her tenure, but on August 08, 2024 he came back from Paris to a hero’s welcome and headed to the presidential palace to take over the helm of Bangladesh, a country in flux. His long-time tormentor, Hasina, had fled three days earlier.

The students, who had spearheaded the protests and catalyzed the people’s uprising, championed Yunus as their choice for the head of an interim government. People were relieved that he had indeed agreed to take charge. And as such, the economics professor came to personify the hopes and aspirations of Bangladesh.

His arrival ended a four-day power vacuum. He spoke to the media as if he was already in charge, celebrating what he said was a “second liberation”, imploring the countrymen to keep faith in him and sending a message of unity to the nation in times of an unprecedented crisis.

At Dhaka airport, he shared words of empathy with anti-government protesters. At times, he struggled to fight back tears, a rare display of grief, when he remembered Abu Sayed, who died in a hail of bullets fired by the police.

The first few days, as expected, were steeped in symbolism. His carefully chosen words – the rebirth of Bangladesh and renewal after a period of turmoil – resonated deeply with the audience.

Then came the hardest part. The interim government nervously began the heavy task of restoring law and order after weeks of deadly protests. A month went by, but the morale of the police force was still low. The police administration underwent major reshuffles in the past month. Officers largely stayed away from work and appeared to be reluctant to respond to disturbances.

Reprisal attacks spiked in the immediate aftermath of Hasina’s downfall, although it has now come down. But extortion and murder cases against journalists continue to be a big concern.

All of this means that maintaining law and order remains a formidable challenge for the interim government, as various groups try to exploit the social disorder to their advantage.

Yunus has initiated a major clean-up of key institutions, appointing a former IMF economist as the central bank governor to bring discipline to the banking sector.

Additionally, he has tasked another prominent economist with drafting a white paper on the entrenched corruption during Hasina’s 15-year tenure.

While the economy is still facing challenges, businesses are gradually recovering. The advisory council now faces the crucial task of implementing effective economic policies and reforms to rebuild public trust and attract foreign direct investment, ensuring long-term stability.

In the decades since the end of HM Ershad’s military rule in 1990, Bangladesh experienced an “economic miracle” that lifted tens of millions out of poverty, driven largely by a booming garment sector.

However, since emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has suffered from high inflation, particularly in food prices, and shortages of foreign currency.

These issues are largely attributed to corruption and government mismanagement.

For political reasons, Hasina’s administration was reluctant to pursue serious economic reforms. The recent unrest has only exacerbated the country’s economic problems, with garment buyers cancelling orders, which require serious and urgent attention.

One priority for Yunus should be re-establishing the independence of the Election Commission to build confidence in the forthcoming polls with the top bosses gone. Under the former prime minister, parliament became a rubber stamp, the civil service and judiciary were highly politicized, and the media and civil society were closely controlled.

“While some of these institutions will quickly flourish in a more open environment, others will bear the scars of subordination for years to come,” the Crisis Group said in a report.

It’s a race against time for Yunus who took over on August 08 with a fledgling team. He brought swift changes to the civil administration, police, the Rapid Action Battalion, the Detective Branch and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence that Hasina exploited to create a culture of fear and intimidation. They enjoyed almost total impunity under Hasina’s administration.

It’s a monumental task for Yunus to make sure people have confidence they will not be arrested, abducted or even killed extrajudicially for political reasons.

Yunus also faces significant challenges in navigating the evolving geopolitical landscape, especially considering the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. The relationship with India, traditionally seen as Hasina’s strongest supporter, has been strained due to Dhaka’s push for her extradition.

Although the interim government has stated that Hasina’s stay in New Delhi won’t affect bilateral relations, the changing public sentiment in Bangladesh requires careful management to maintain strategic cooperation with India and adopt a more balanced approach in foreign relations.

“In supporting her administration so staunchly despite its clear unpopularity, India has badly damaged itself in Bangladeshis’ eyes. If it now seems to be standing in the way of reform, it will only amplify anti-India sentiment, which could linger to the detriment of neighbourly relations,” the Crisis Group said.

India should instead support the interim government, and revive links with other parties too as part of a political renewal in Bangladesh.

The interim government faces numerous challenges as citizens demand justice on multiple fronts. It must priorities addressing the grievances of those affected by Hasina’s 15-year rule, implement necessary reforms and manage a smooth political transition. The new administration, at least for now, seems focused on “managing expectations from all sides.”

The domestic political landscape is fraught with challenges, as the uprising reflects deep dissatisfaction with the current system. The interim government, recognizing the urgency of the situation, has initiated dialogues with established political parties, civil society members, development partners and journalists to pursue reforms to create a more stable political environment.

One key option could be the revival of the caretaker government system, which was abolished by Hasina’s administration in 2011. This system could help ensure fair and transparent elections, reducing the risk of another autocratic leader emerging.

Hasina’s departure offers a unique opportunity to move beyond the hyper-partisan, winner-take-all electoral dynamics that have harmed Bangladeshi politics for the past three decades. It’s an opportunity to undo the past wrongdoings.

Courtesy: Daily Star

 

 

Saturday, 10 August 2024

Bangladesh: General Zaman not liked by India

Indian government officials had reportedly alerted former Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the potential dangers associated with the appointment of General Waker-Uz-Zaman as Army Chief in June of last year.

Despite these warnings, Hasina moved forward with the appointment, a decision that many analysts believe contributed to her recent political downfall.

In the face of rising youth protests, General Zaman took a hardline stance by issuing an ultimatum to Hasina, demanding that she and her sister leave the country.

The report also highlights a significant development in the political landscape, noting the Army’s swift decision to release opposition leader Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

This move suggests that Islamist groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatrashibir, may be poised to play a more influential role in the country’s politics moving forward.

General Zaman dedicated nearly four decades to military service, including two tours as a UN peacekeeper. He began his tenure as Chief of Army Staff in June, succeeding General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed.

His extensive experience includes commanding an infantry battalion, an independent infantry brigade, and an infantry division. He has also held significant staff positions at the Infantry Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics, and Army Headquarters.

Educated at the Bangladesh Military Academy, General Zaman furthered his studies at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Mirpur and the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the UK.

He holds advanced degrees in Defence Studies from both the National University of Bangladesh and King’s College, University of London.

As the principal staff officer to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Armed Forces Division, General Zaman played a critical role in shaping national defence strategies and international peacekeeping efforts.

His contributions have earned him the Army Medal of Glory (SGP) and the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) for his efforts in modernizing the army.

 

 

Friday, 9 August 2024

Pakistan not involved in ouster of Hasina

The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday rejected all statements emanating from India accusing Pakistan of being involved in the ouster of Bangladesh’s then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, terming it New Delhi’s “disturbing obsession” with Islamabad.

The comments came after reports emerged from India blaming the Pakistan intelligence agencies for their involvement in the collapse of Bangladesh’s government.

The Bangladeshi military initially took over the country after a student-led protest forced the country’s Hasina to flee. Later, an interim government was formed with Bangladesh’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus sworn in as its head.

Reacting to the Indian media reports, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad today, rejected all such statements, stressing that Pakistan had no involvement in the events that took place in Bangladesh.

“These statements depict India’s disturbing obsession with Pakistan,” Baloch said in response to a question.

She said that Indian political ledgers and their media habitually blamed Pakistan for their failures in domestic and foreign policy.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan and Bangladesh had positive relations which had only continued to grow.

“The government and people of Pakistan have expressed their support and solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and we sincerely hope for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy,” said Baloch.

She went on to say that Pakistan was confident that the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people would lead them towards a harmonious future.

The student-led movement that ousted Hasina grew out of protests against quotas in government jobs that spiraled in July, provoking a violent crackdown that drew global criticism, although the government denied using excessive force.

Hasina, 76, who had been in power since 2009, quit on Monday as hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Dhaka. Jubilant crowds later stormed and looted her palace.

Monday’s events were the culmination of more than a month of unrest, which began as protests against a plan for quotas in government jobs but morphed into an anti-Hasina movement.

Hasina, who was accused of rigging the January elections and widespread human rights abuses, deployed security forces to quash the protests.

At least 455 people were killed in the unrest, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials, and hospital doctors.

 

 

Monday, 5 August 2024

Bangladesh: Hasina resigns, army takes over

According to Sudi Gazette, the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, resigned on Monday after weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations gripped the South Asian nation.

The announcement from Bangladesh’s army chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, came after protesters stormed the official residence of the prime minister in the capital, Dhaka.

Images showed flames billowing from vehicles near Hasina’s house, with police unable to contain throngs of people charging towards the neighborhood.

Earlier in the day, the military and police had attacked demonstrators rallying in the area, according to a journalist working for CNN in Dhaka.

At least 91 people were killed and hundreds injured on Sunday in clashes between police and protesters demanding the scrapping of quotas for government jobs and the resignation of the prime minister. Opponents say the civil service job quotas are discriminatory.

The death toll on Sunday, which included 13 police officers, was the highest for a single day from any protests in the country’s recent history.

The figure surpassed the 67 deaths reported on July 19, when students took to the streets against the quotas, Reuters reported.

At least 32 children were killed during protests last month, UNICEF said on Friday.

The widespread unrest prompted the government to impose an indefinite nationwide curfew over the weekend. Meanwhile, human rights groups accused authorities of using excessive force against protesters, a charge the government denies.

The military will form an interim government in the wake of Hasina’s resignation, according to the army chief, who called on students “to maintain peace and help us.”

“Whatever demands you have, we will fulfill and bring back peace to the nation, please help us in this, stay away from violence,” Zaman said on Monday. He added that “the military will not fire at anyone, the police will not fire at anyone, I have given orders.”

Police opened fire on protesters in Dhaka earlier in the day, according to a journalist working for CNN, even as security forces have been under scrutiny for unleashing a wave of brutality on demonstrators.

At least four people sustained injuries as protesters were gathering at Dhaka Medical College on Monday, according to the journalist. One of those people was shot in the head.

Protesters told CNN that the military was blocking Dhaka Medical College Bakshibazar Gate. Police also used tear gas on protesters there, according to a demonstrator on the ground.

Students and protesters at Dhaka University Campus and the Shaheed Minar, a national monument in the capital, were beaten by police as they assembled at these locations.

Protesters there said that the police had attempted to break up the crowd by “brutally beating” them with bamboo sticks and using tear gas.

“Direct open firing took place in Shahbag area 15 minutes ago. We don’t have an estimate of how many were injured. It is still ongoing. Near Motijhil Shantinagar, tear gas has been fired on common people,” one demonstrator told CNN.

In other locations across Dhaka, the military has also fired warning shots in the sky and towards protesters.

Details and videos are scant as Bangladesh is in the midst of a “near-total national internet shutdown after earlier social media and mobile cuts” according to data from Netblocks, a global internet monitor.

Video posted on social media and verified by CNN showed security forces launching live rounds into the air near protesters on the N1 highway in Dhaka.

Protesters in Dhaka told CNN that the university campus was surrounded by armed forces.

The neighborhoods of Nilkhet, Katabon, and Shahbagh are currently blocked. The militarys armored personnel carriers have taken positions in front of the Intercontinental Hotel, and they are only letting doctors in.

Asif Mahmud, one of the key coordinators of the civil disobedience campaign, called on protesters to gather at 11:00 a.m. local time, adding that they planned to walk to Shahbagh in what they call the Long March to Dhaka.

 

Thursday, 18 July 2024

Bangladesh state TV set ablaze

Protesters have set fire to the headquarters of the state broadcaster in Bangladesh as violent clashes between students and police continue, the authorities say.

A post on BTV's official Facebook page warned "many" were trapped inside the building in Dhaka, as it appealed for help from the fire service to put the blaze out.

Bangladesh's information minister told the BBC that broadcasts had been stopped and most employees had left the building in the capital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had appeared on the network the night before, appealing for calm after days of violent protests which have left at least 17 people dead, possibly many more, and hundreds injured.

Students have been holding rallies demanding change to a system that reserves a third of public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans of the country’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.

The students are arguing that the system is discriminatory, asking for recruitment based on merit.

The government has been trying to quell the protests, on Thursday switching off the country's mobile internet in an attempt to slow the students.

Instead, it became the deadliest day so far, according to news agency AFP. According to its count citing hospitals, a total of 32 people have died during the protests - most of them on Thursday.

The BBC's Bengali service has confirmed 17 deaths so far - among them, a 32-year-old journalist for the Dhaka Times.

Sheikh Hasina had condemned protesters' deaths as "murder" in her Wednesday television appearance, but her words were largely dismissed by protest organizers.

Thursday saw tear gas and rubber bullets deployed by officers, as students created human blockades in the streets.

The students who stormed BTV had earlier "torched" a police station, according to an official at BTV.

"They chased the police officers when they took refuge at the BTV office," the official told AFP. "Angry protesters then caused mayhem here."

The Bangladeshi information minister Mohammad Ali Arafat told the BBC that the employees still inside the building were "feeling very unsafe".

"They [protesters] went in and vandalized," he said.

"Security forces are there fully but... they were present physically, they were not trying to put any counter-attack.

"But they'll be doing it now, they will warn everyone and then they will go full on to clear it up."

Wednesday, 10 January 2024

China committed to work with Hasina

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has congratulated Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for successfully holding of the 12th general election and Awami League’s victory.

Ambassador Yao conveyed warm congratulations and best wishes from Chinese leaders to Hasina.

The Chinese ambassador called on Hasina at Ganabhaban and reaffirmed that Chinese leaders are committed to working with her to carry forward the long-established friendship, enhance mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation – thereby uplift the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height.

Ambassador Yao noted that both China and Bangladesh are at a critical stage of development and revitalization, and China would always be the most trustworthy partner and the most reliable friend of Bangladesh on the way to modernization.

Under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, China and Bangladesh have set a model of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka.

China will firmly support Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in opposing external interference, it said.

China will also support Bangladesh in maintaining unity and stability, and in playing a more active role in international and regional affairs, said the embassy.

China is committed to assisting Bangladesh in realizing the ‘Vision 2041’ and the dream of ‘Sonar Bangla,’ it said.

Ambassador Yao said that China is prepared to strengthen all-round cooperation with Bangladesh, and take due actions to facilitate and expand trade and investment with Bangladesh, promote high-quality China-Bangladesh Belt and Road cooperation, and make its own contribution to realizing ‘Smart Bangladesh’.

Tuesday, 9 January 2024

United States most unhappy over Hasina victory

It was not surprising to read a Reuters report this morning, quoting the US State Department that the weekend's elections in Bangladesh were not free and fair, adding Washington was concerned by reports of vote irregularities and condemned violence that took place.

According to the same report, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina swept to a fourth straight term in power, with her party winning almost 75% of the seats in Sunday's general election.

Please allow me to say that United States is the unhappiest country on the victory of Sheikh Hasina. It tested its muscles but emerged unsuccessful.

One may wonder why the United States is against Hasina. First and the most important, the US just does not like those rulers who enjoy support of its people. The other reason was stable economy of Bangladesh. It may be said without mincing words that the US wanted to topple Hasina was to destabilize Bangladesh.

To the utter disappointment of United States, Hasina continue to enjoy support of India, China and Russia.

It is worth laughing to read, "The United States remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on elections day," a US State Department spokesperson said on Monday.

It is the same United States which has multiple times used its veto power to derail ceasefire efforts in Gaza.

It is worth noting that the United States has been extending all sort of support to Israel which has killed more than 22,000 people mostly women and children in Gaza.

 

Sunday, 7 January 2024

Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina secures fourth straight term

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina swept to a fourth straight term in power, the poll body said on Monday, with her party winning almost 75% of the seats in a general election that was boycotted by the main opposition and drew a low turnout.

The main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which participated in the 2018 vote but kept away in 2014, boycotted the polls after Hasina refused their demands to resign and allow a neutral authority to run the general election.

The daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding father of Bangladesh who was killed in an army coup in 1975 along with most members of the family, Hasina, 76, first became prime minister in 1996. This will be her fifth term overall.

In her past 15 years in power she has been credited with turning around the economy and the massive garments industry, while winning international praise for sheltering Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.

According to Reuters, Bangladeshis largely stayed away from Sunday's election, which was marred by violence. Turnout was about 40% when polls closed, said chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, compared with over 80% in the last election in 2018.

The ruling Awami League party won 223 seats out of 298, according to unofficial results released by the Election Commission on Monday.

Polls were held for 299 directly elected parliamentary seats with close to 120 million voters eligible to choose from nearly 2,000 contestants. The result of one seat was withheld due to irregularities while election to another seat will be held at a later date.

Hasina herself bagged 249,962 votes from her constituency Gopalganj, about 165 kilometres (103 miles) south of the capital Dhaka, while her nearest rival secured just 469 votes.

Among the ruling party winners were actor Ferdous Ahmed and former Bangladesh cricket captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza.

Rights groups warned of a virtual one-party rule by Hasina's Awami League in the South Asian country of 170 million people while the United States and Western nations, key customers of Bangladesh's garment industry, had called for a free and fair election, the 12th since 1971.

"I am trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country," Hasina said on Sunday after casting her vote, adding that her only accountability was to citizens of Bangladesh.

She has instructed party leaders and supporters not to bring out any victory processions or indulge in celebrations, said Awami League's general secretary Obaidul Quader.

Independent candidates, many of them Awami League party members of various ranks, won 61 seats, meaning the parliament will largely be without any credible opposition for the next five years.

The BNP, whose alliance won seven seats in the 2018 election, has accused the ruling party of propping up 'dummy' independent candidates to try to make the election look credible, a claim the Awami League has denied.

Critics accuse Hasina of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent.

The economy has also slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn last year to the International Monetary Fund for a $4.7 billion bailout. Inflation was 9.5% in November.

"The government must curb the crazy inflation. And I request them to lower tax and provide subsidies to poor people. We don't want anything else," said Abdul Halim, a plastic toy seller in Dhaka, while reading a newspaper pasted on a wall.

The BNP called a two-day strike nationwide through Sunday, asking people to shun the election, and said the low turnout was a success for their boycott call.

Hasina has accused the opposition of instigating anti-government protests that have rocked Dhaka since late October and killed at least 14 people.

At least four people were killed on Friday in a passenger train fire that the government called arson. Several polling booths, schools and a Buddhist monastery were also set ablaze days before the poll.

Shakil Ahmed, an assistant professor at Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka, said the latest polls would do little to ease the political upheaval in Bangladesh and warned that violence could continue post election.

"I think the immediate challenge for the prime minister is to stabilise the consumer market for common people. This election is not the answer to the debacle of politics in Bangladesh," he said.

 

Thursday, 20 April 2023

Bangladesh: Hasina accuses US of seeking regime change

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the United States of seeking a regime change in the country. “They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence,” Hasina said in Parliament. “It’ll be an undemocratic action.”

Hasina’s criticism of the United States comes at a time when Washington has pulled up her party – the Awami League – on issues related to human rights.

In December 2022, several former and current leaders of the Rapid Action Battalion were sanctioned by the United States. The RAB, an elite Bangladesh paramilitary unit, is alleged to have carried out enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings on behalf of the government.

In the same month, American Ambassador Peter Haas had met families of victims of alleged enforced disappearance under Hasina’s rule. This included the family of Sajedul Islam Sumon, a leader from the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

In February this year, Derek Chollet, the US State Department counselor, had expressed concern about the decline of democracy in Bangladesh. He had warned that this would limit American cooperation with Dhaka and urged Hasina to ensure free and fair elections.

 

Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Bangladesh: PM Hasina slams United States

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called the country’s leading national daily an enemy of the people and claimed Washington was working to bring an undemocratic party to power in Bangladesh in the upcoming election.

The unusually strong remarks to Bangladesh’s parliament came on the same day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was hosting Dhaka’s top diplomat, A. K. Abdul Momen, at the Department of State in Washington.

While speaking in parliament, Hasina, leader of the Awami League party, did not name which so-called undemocratic party she believed the United States wanted in power.

“America can change power in any country it wants. [They] want to bring such a government here which will not have any democratic existence,” she said.

Hasina also accused Washington of supporting corrupt people in Bangladesh.

“[The US] is speaking against corruption. Now it can be seen that it is advocating on behalf of those convicted in corruption case[s],” she said.

Again, Hasina did not name which people, although the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairwoman Khaleda Zia has been convicted in two graft cases. An ailing Khaleda’s prison term has been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US has in recent months urged Bangladesh to ensure free and fair elections, amid reports of the government muzzling critics and the opposition. The election is scheduled for December 2023 or January 2024.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement congratulating Bangladesh on its Independence Day also urged a commitment to democratic norms and human rights. Some observers said this was unusual for a communiqué of this kind.

On Monday, the top US top diplomat again referenced the Bangladesh elections.

He told his Bangladesh counterpart Momen that Washington was committed to continuing to work together, to find ways to strengthen and deepen the relationship, to address as well economic development and human rights.

“And of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next elections, to make sure that they set a strong example for free and fair elections for the region and for the world,” Blinken said, according to a State Department statement on remarks exchanged by the two diplomats before their meeting in Washington.

For his part, Momen said that Bangladesh had sacrificed millions of lives for independence, for upholding democracy, human rights, justice, and human dignity.

Former Bangladesh diplomat M. Humayun Kabir, who has served as envoy to the United States, told BenarNews that Hasina’s comments show there could be a communication gap between the two countries.

“The remarks of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made it clear that there is a huge gap of understanding between Washington and Dhaka,” he said.

“But this is not a proper time to say anything about the ultimate relations between the nations; I think we need to observe it more closely.”

Hasina also slammed a leading Bangla daily news organization. “Prothom Alo is an enemy of the Awami League, Prothom Alo is an enemy of democracy and Prothom Alo is an enemy of the country’s people,” she said.

The daily was last month hit with two cases under the draconian Digital Security Act, for allegedly “undermining the country’s independence.”

A correspondent for the daily was arrested – and later released on bail – for his report which quoted a daily laborer as saying, “We need independence guaranteeing fish, meat and rice.”

The daily’s editor was also slapped with charges under the act for the report which was published on Bangladesh’s Independence Day.

Prothom Alo Executive Editor Sajjad Sharif told BenarNews that the daily had little to say about the PM’s remarks.

“[We] are doing our journalism maintaining all professional ethics. We have no favor or conflict with any political parties,” he said.

Hours after Hasina’s comment four people entered the office building of the news outlet shouting “Boycott Prothom Alo.” The building’s security guard, Mesbaul Haque, told BenarNews no police complaint was registered as Prothom Alo dismissed it as a “small incident.”

Hasina’s targets on Monday also included 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Grameen Bank Founder Muhammad Yunus, who is often openly vilified by her government.

He [Yunus] is a very favorite person of the US. The country never raised the question of how this person, who was the managing director of Grameen Bank … got millions of dollars,” she said.

“Did they [the US] ever want to know from where the managing director, who used to draw a salary from the government, got millions of dollars? They didn’t.”

Yunus and some of his colleagues from Grameen Telecom, a company he founded, are being investigated by Bangladesh’s anti-graft agency for alleged involvement in laundering money to the tune of US US$300 million (31.8 billion taka), and embezzling from the employees’ welfare fund.

Last month, 40 global public figures, including rock singer Bono and former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, had urged Bangladesh to stop harassing the Nobel laureate.

In an open letter, they said Yunus had not benefited financially from his involvement in the company.

“Rather, he has devoted himself to the poverty-fighting missions of the many organizations he has established and lives modestly in Dhaka,” the letter said.

Courtesy: The Bangladesh Chronicle

 

Monday, 13 June 2022

United States starts playing regime change mantra in Bangladesh

Jamie Raskin, Member of US House of Representatives, has urged his colleagues to join him in standing with the people of Bangladesh, especially those bravest and most vulnerable. He also urged the Bangladesh government to take immediate action to respect the civil rights and safety of all the people of Bangladesh.

Democratic Party member Jamie Raskin made the call in a session of the US congress on June 07, 2022. His statement has been taken from the congressional record published in the US congress website.

Jamie Raskin is a member of Democratic Party and elected from Maryland. He is also a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

Earlier, on December 10, 2021, the Human Rights Day, the US imposed sanctions on Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its current and former seven officials on charges of violating human rights.

Before that, in August 2021, a discussion of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission expressed concerns on the situation of forced disappearances in Bangladesh.

On June 07, 2022 while speaking in a session presided over by House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, Jamie Raskin said, “I rise today in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. I want to voice my support for human rights defenders, members of minority groups, and civil society in Bangladesh at this moment when the Bangladeshi government is persisting in threatening the basic human rights and civil liberties of its people.”

He also said the Bangladeshi government, led by Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, has earned widespread criticism for its deteriorating human rights record, and for its failure to protect the most vulnerable people living in Bangladesh – indigenous people, women, religious minorities, activists, and refugees.

On International Human Rights Day last year, the US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion, citing how their actions undermine the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The United Nations reported that since the sanctions against the RAB officials were announced in December, the Bangladesh government has responded by launching a retaliatory campaign of intimidation and harassment.

The homes of at least 10 relatives of people forcibly disappeared are reported to have been raided at night, and some relatives were forced to sign statements saying that their loved ones had not in fact been forcibly disappeared.

US Congress member further said Amnesty International tracks human rights abuses in Bangladesh and has noted their acceleration during the pandemic. Under the draconian Digital Security Act of 2018, Bangladeshi journalists and other human rights defenders are routinely persecuted for reporting on corruption or criticizing any of the government’s policies.

He also said Covid-19 policies against public gatherings have been used to prevent political meetings, and to quell public protests against the government. Violence against women and indigenous activists has also intensified during the pandemic.

The Bangladeshi government employs a joint task force composed of members of police, military, and border guards called the Rapid Action Battalion, and it has consistently failed to address the excesses of these and other security forces.

The Rapid Action Battalion and other Bangladeshi law enforcement entities are alleged to be responsible for more than 600 disappearances since 2009 and nearly 600 extrajudicial killings since 2018. These incidents reportedly target opposition party members, journalists, and human rights activists.

 

Sunday, 28 March 2021

Can Pakistan and Bangladesh be Friends ever?

On 14th August 2020, Pakistan’s Independence Day, the country’s high commissioner in Dhaka, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, lauded the role that Bengalis played in the creation of Pakistan in 1947. 

That was preceded by Pakistani foreign office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui saying that Islamabad was now actively working on mending relations with Dhaka. Before that, the two premiers, Imran Khan and Sheikh Hasina, held on 22nd July 2020 telephone conversation.

The year 2020 provided a rare opportunity to Islamabad and Dhaka to talk about their own fractured past. This was noticed by New Delhi with concern. Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla rushed to meet Hasina and Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen.

Pakistan’s recent advances toward Bangladesh have overlapped with growing disputes between New Delhi and Dhaka, largely centering around the growing anti-Muslim tilt of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. In the recent past, differences over the Rohingya refugee crisis, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodha have sparked a diverse array of skepticism from Dhaka.

China and Turkey are backing Islamabad’s Kashmir narrative, much of Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh has been with regard to this fast-growing alliance. With China more interested in Kashmir because of its growing rivalry with India, and its bid to involve itself in conflicts as the global superpower, Dhaka’s interest in being a part of the China-Pakistan-Turkey nexus could also be piqued by Beijing’s investments in Bangladesh.

Under the Turkey-led Muslim bloc, both Pakistan and Bangladesh can get more prominence as compared to what they have under the Gulf states, who have not only failed to provide support for Kashmir, but have actively enhanced their defense and energy cooperation with India, and even Israel.

The UAE-Israel deal epitomizes the rapid splintering into a new cold war reality, with the Gulf states firmly in the US-Saudi camp. This opened the possibility for South Asian Muslim countries to back the potential China-Turkey bloc. Pakistan’s efforts to persuade Bangladesh, backed by China and Turkey, are rooted in global, and regional, realignments more so than any bilateral efforts to reconcile with a tumultuous past.

While Pakistan and Bangladesh might find common interests in coexisting in the same bloc, for the two to actually become friends requires an honest discussion on what transpired in 1971 – and the events leading up to it.

Where China and Turkey might be providing the opportunity for Pakistan to sit with Bangladesh again, it must do so with sincerity and self-reflection. That will not only help Islamabad formulate progressive bilateral ties, it might also ring a timely reminder to undo many of the same errors of the past.

Friday, 26 March 2021

Anti Modi demonstrations erupt in Bangladesh

Two-day tour of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to Bangladesh starts on Friday. Earlier, leaders from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives have attended the festivities, which started on 17th March.

Modi’s visit is part of 10-day celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh independence. This also marks Birth Centenary of the nation's founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During his visit, Modi is scheduled to visit two temples in southern rural districts, including the birthplace of a top Hindu reformer who has large number of followers in the Indian West Bengal and Bangladesh.

To display their displeasure some factions staged anti-Modi demonstration in Dhaka. The protesters accused Modi of stoking religious tensions and inciting anti-Muslim violence in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002, which left about 1,000 people dead. Modi was Gujarat's chief minister at the time of the deadly religious riots.

On Thursday, student organizations under the banner of ‘Progressive Student Alliance’ were demonstrating against Modi’s visit.They were allegedly attacked by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists at Dhaka University campus.

 “Some 40 protesters were injured, including 18 hospitalized with injuries from police beatings and rubber bullets,” Bin Yamin Molla, a senior official of the Student Rights Council, which organized the protest, told AFP.

Witnesses said several hundreds of BCL men with local weapons were seen at the Teachers Students Centre (TSC).

Earlier in the day, Jubo Odhikar Parishad activists clashed with police in the city’s Motijheel area while protesting against the Indian prime minister’s visit.

The Parishad, youth front of former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Nurul Haque Nur’s organization, blocked the roads in the Motijheel area in the afternoon.

The clashes started when the law enforcing agencies tried to stop the demonstrators.