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Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Bangladesh: Gopalganj violence shows ugly side of new political order
Dhaka: Bangladesh's political theatre has always been animated, its vibrancy marred by episodes of violence that seem almost intrinsic to its narrative. In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's ouster from power in August last year, the country has been caught in a downward spiral of unrest, with the streets increasingly overtaken by chaos and common citizens bearing the brunt of growing insecurity. The interim government, despite its stated commitment to restoring order, appears unable—or perhaps unwilling — to rein in this spiralling disorder. With the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray, a vacuum has emerged — one that has not necessarily been filled with stability. Instead, political rivalries have intensified. Formerly united in opposition to the League, parties have begun turning on each other, vying for dominance in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Among them, the National Citizen's Party (NCP), born from the fervour of last July's student uprising, has emerged as a powerful and provocative force. Its meteoric rise has further stoked tensions in a country still grappling with the remnants of its former ruling party's influence. The Gopalganj incident on July 16 starkly illustrated the dark side of this new political order. The NCP's ambitious cross-country campaign, titled 'March to Build the Country', aimed to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising. What began as a rally to showcase unity and purpose soon devolved into violence when NCP members clashed with elements of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League — once the student wing of the Awami League. Reports confirmed that crude explosives were hurled, resulting in five fatalities and over 50 injuries. While the Awami League may be officially dissolved, its grassroots presence and legacy evidently persist. More worryingly, the clash also laid bare the NCP's own descent into authoritarian conduct. The party, which has for months championed the banning of the Awami League and vilified its supporters as 'fascists', now finds itself mirroring the very traits it once condemned. The violence in Gopalganj — a town symbolically tethered to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — was no accident. NCP's provocative choice of location, viewed by many as an intentional attempt to desecrate Mujib's legacy, has sparked fears of a coordinated campaign to erase the historical and ideological foundations of Bangladesh itself. In recent months, the NCP has positioned itself at the forefront of the national discourse, pushing for three primary goals: the permanent banning of the Awami League, completion of the July Uprising trial, and formal adoption of the July Charter as a foundational document. The interim government initially resisted such moves. The Chief Advisor had even remarked that it was up to the Awami League to decide whether or not to participate in elections. But following the NCP's May demonstration in Dhaka, the government changed course. The League's registration was revoked by the Election Commission on May 12, and all its political activities were halted pending the outcome of the July trials. The global community, however, did not take kindly to the move. Several international observers condemned the decision as a deviation from democratic norms. Banning the country's oldest and arguably most historically significant political party has triggered concerns about the interim government's impartiality and the future of pluralistic politics in Bangladesh. While the NCP paints the Awami League as fascist, it is becoming evident that the new party harbours its own ideological extremism. The assault on Mujibism is no longer rhetorical. There is a calculated effort underway to purge the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation — from every public space. Following Hasina's removal, state-led actions have facilitated the removal of his portraits, cancellation of holidays commemorating his achievements, renaming of institutions, rewriting of textbooks, and even demolition of historical landmarks associated with him. The transformation is not limited to just politics. It extends to a cultural revolution aimed at redrawing the ideological map of the nation. The existing Constitution, promulgated in 1972 with secular and nationalist ideals derived from the Liberation War, has come under attack. The NCP, backed by Islamist groups, has denounced it as a 'Mujibbadi' document and has called for the elimination of its core principles. This demand challenges the very ethos of Bangladesh's struggle for freedom and its subsequent nation-building project. The interim government's complicity is hard to ignore. Rather than acting as a neutral custodian of national stability, it has quietly enabled these measures. The symbolic erasure of Mujib's legacy is most evident in the demolition of sites like Mirza Alam Chattar in Jamalpur and the Bangabandhu memorial in Jessore — both being replaced with monuments commemorating the July Uprising. These acts have drawn sharp criticism, with citizens, historians, and civil society figures warning against rewriting history to suit the narrative of a single political faction. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Gopalganj, the birthplace and burial site of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The NCP's decision to hold a rally there was widely viewed as provocative. Eyewitnesses and media reports suggest that NCP cadres, some armed, unleashed violence on civilians — allegedly with backing from military personnel deployed for crowd control. The Bangladesh Army's involvement in the crackdown has raised serious questions about its neutrality. The UK-based International Crime Research Foundation has called for a UN-led investigation into what it describes as a "premeditated assault" on the mausoleum of Bangladesh's founding father. The silence of the interim government on the Gopalganj incident speaks volumes. Many believe it to be tacit approval of the NCP's radical agenda. Nahid Islam, NCP's convenor, has made increasingly inflammatory statements since the event — referring to Gopalganj as a "fascist stronghold" and even going so far as to declare that Ziaur Rahman, not Mujib, was the true proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence. Such remarks not only distort historical facts but seek to alter the collective memory of the nation. In effect, the political violence in today's Bangladesh is not merely the result of power struggles. It is deeply intertwined with a concerted campaign to dismantle Sheikh Mujib's ideological influence. The NCP's insistence on an Awami League-free Bangladesh betrays the principles of inclusive democracy. No matter how tainted a party may appear in the court of public opinion, true democratic practice demands space for all voices — including dissenting and unpopular ones. The Gopalganj tragedy has exposed a hard truth: in trying to rid the nation of one form of political dominance, Bangladesh may be sliding into another—this time cloaked in the rhetoric of revolutionary justice and popular sentiment. But such a trajectory threatens not only the stability of the state but also the moral compass of its polity. Erasing history, however flawed, is no path to genuine reform. In today's Bangladesh, the lines between victim and aggressor, fascist and liberator, are increasingly blurred. If the nation is to emerge from this era of polarisation and purges, it must reclaim its commitment to truth, reconciliation, and political pluralism—before another chapter of its history is written in blood.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh: Yunus' exclusive talks with BNP leader irks two major allies
A meeting between Bangladesh Chief Adviser Mumammad Yunus with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has irked two major allies of the interim government, the student-led NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Yunus returned to Bangladesh on Saturday ending his four-day London tour, which featured the meeting with Rahman, the acting chief of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). After the meeting with Rahman, BNP leader Amir Kharsu Mahmud Chowdhury and Yunus' security adviser Khalilur Rahman held a joint briefing and hinted that elections could be held in February next year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Both Jamaat and National Citizen Party (NCP) have termed the meeting in London on Friday between Yunus and the BNP leader as his bias towards a particular party. BNP is the arch rival of the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina 's Awami League. In a statement on Saturday, Jamaat termed the joint press briefing by representatives of both Yunus and Rahman as a "breach of political norms" since the interim government chief particularly advanced the election time deviating from the deadline he announced last week in Dhaka. Live Events "Through this, he (Yunus) has expressed special affection for a party (BNP), which has undermined his impartiality," the statement said, adding that instead of announcing the new deadline on the foreign soil, he should have done it after consulting other parties on his return home. The NCP, which was launched in February, on Friday night said people would not accept any election date before the implementation of the proposed July Charter, referring to last year's violent student-led agitation that toppled Hasina's regime. Hasina fled to India on August 5 and three days later, Yunus assumed charge as the chief of the interim government. The NCP emerged as a political offshoot of Students Against Discrimination (SAD). The NCP said the Yunus-Rahman meeting laid more importance on the election deadline but the "people's main demand" in the post-Hasina regime "namely justice and reform, did not receive the same importance", adding "the NCP finds this very disappointing." The BNP, several other parties and the military had been mounting pressure on Yunus to conduct general elections by December. He, however, in a nationwide address last week, said the polls would be held in April next year. Yunus previously said the polls would be held in between December 2024 or June 2025 following the reforms and justice or the trial of the deposed regime leaders were completed. The Jamaat statement said it was "morally inappropriate" for Yunus as the head of the interim government to hold a joint press briefing with a single party and added that such actions raised doubts among people about fairness and neutrality of the upcoming election process. The statement came after a meeting of the party's Central Executive Council was held on Saturday morning. The NCP, on the other hand, said it repeatedly observed that the government is giving priority to the position and demands of "only one political party" on the election issue. "We believe that holding the National Assembly elections without a clear roadmap for the formulation of the 'July Proclamation', the implementation of the 'July Charter' and the implementation of the trial will turn the popular uprising into a mere transfer of power and will suppress the people's desire for state building," the NCP statement read. Yunus' interim government had disbanded Awami League until its leaders were exposed to punitive actions for what it claimed were their brutal actions to tame the uprising. Most Awami leaders were arrested, some went underground or fled abroad as the interim government initiated a process to try them, including Hasina, in Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on charges like crimes against humanity.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Bangladesh's Yunus says will step down after polls
LONDON: Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus (pic) said Wednesday (June 11) that there was "no way" he wanted to continue in power after elections he has announced for April, the first since a mass uprising overthrew the government. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year rule. Speaking in London, Yunus, asked if he himself was seeking any political post, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner said there was "no way", waving his hands in the air for emphasis. "I think none of our cabinet members would like to do that, not only me", he said. Yunus was answering questions after speaking at London's foreign policy think tank Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He also said he wanted to unveil a "big package" of proposals next month that he dubbed a "July Charter" - one year on since the students launched the demonstrations that toppled Hasina. The aim of the package, he added, was to overhaul democratic institutions after Hasina's tenure. "We want to say goodbye to the old Bangladesh and create a new Bangladesh", Yunus said. The charter is being drafted by a government "consensus commission", talking to political parties to "find that which are the recommendations they will accept", he added. Yunus has long said elections will be held before June 2026, but says the more time the interim administration had to enact reforms, the better. But after political parties jostling for power repeatedly demanded he fix a timetable, he said earlier this month that elections would be held in April 2026. "Our job is to make sure that the transition is managed well, and that people are happy when we hand over power to the elected government," he said. "So we want to make sure that the election is right, that is a very critical factor for us. If the election is wrong, this thing will never be solved again". Yunus is also expected to meet in London with Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which is widely seen as likely to sweep the elections. Rahman, 59, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has lived in London since 2008 after being sentenced in absentia under Hasina - convictions since quashed. He is widely expected to return to Dhaka to lead the party in polls. - AFP
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Wanted good relations, but something always went wrong': Yunus on India-Bangladesh ties
LONDON: Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that his interim government wanted good relations with India, but "something always went wrong." During an interaction with Chatham House think tank director Bronwen Maddox in London on Wednesday, Yunus addressed a wide range of issues including bilateral ties with India and the democratic roadmap for the country, starting with a 'July Charter' next month. Maddox referenced an informal diplomatic note issued to India seeking deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition and sought an update on the matter. "This will continue. We want the whole process to be very legal, very proper. We want to build the best of relationship with India. It's our neighbour, we don't want to have any kind of basic problem with them," Yunus said. "But somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press and many people say it has connections with policymakers on the top," he said. "So, this is what makes Bangladesh very jittery, very, very angry. We try to get over this anger but a whole barrage of things keeps happening in cyberspace. We can't just get away from that... suddenly they say something, do something, anger comes back," he said. "This is our big task, to make sure we can have at least a peaceful life to go on with our life. To create the life we are dreaming of," he added.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bangladesh wanted good ties with India, but 'something always went wrong': Yunus
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that his interim government wanted good relations with India, but "something always went wrong". During an interaction with Chatham House think tank director Bronwen Maddox in London on Wednesday (June 11, 2025), Mr. Yunus addressed a wide range of issues including bilateral ties with India and the democratic roadmap for the country, starting with a 'July Charter' next month. Mr. Maddox referenced an informal diplomatic note issued to India seeking deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition and sought an update on the matter. 'This will continue… we want the whole process to be very legal, very proper… We want to build the best of relationship with India. It's our neighbour, we don't want to have any kind of basic problem with them,' Mr. Yunus said. 'But somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press… and many people say it has connections with policymakers on the top," he said. "So, this is what makes Bangladesh very jittery, very, very angry. We try to get over this anger but a whole barrage of things keeps happening in cyberspace. We can't just get away from that… suddenly they say something, do something, anger comes back,' he said. 'This is our big task, to make sure we can have at least a peaceful life to go on with our life. To create the life we are dreaming of,' he added. On an audience question about the 'unclear role of India' about Ms. Hasina, Mr. Yunus responded: 'All the anger (against Hasina) has now transferred to India because she went there.' 'When I had a chance to talk to Prime Minister Modi, I simply said: you want to host her, I cannot force you to abandon that policy. But please help us in making sure she doesn't speak to Bangladeshi people the way she is doing (online). She announces on such and such date, such and such hour, she will speak and the whole (of) Bangladesh gets very angry,' he said. Mr. Yunus claimed Prime Minister Modi told him that Ms. Hasina's social media activities cannot be controlled. 'It's (an) explosive situation, you can't just walk away by saying it's the social media,' he added. The close ties between India and Bangladesh came under strain after Ms. Hasina's ouster. She faces multiple cases in Bangladesh after being ousted on August 5 last year following a major student-led agitation in the country, which forced her to flee Dhaka. Mr. Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Laureate, who took over as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh in August last year, announced last week that national elections will be held by the first half of 2026. Asked if he would consider being part of the elected government, Mr. Yunus replied: 'No way.' He arrived on Tuesday for a four-day visit to the UK, where he was greeted with protests by Hasina's Awami League party members in the UK. He is expected to meet King Charles III and senior members of the British government during the visit.
