Latest news with #uprising
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Bangladesh police arrest 20 after deadly clashes in ousted prime minister's hometown
GOPALGANJ, Bangladesh: Bangladesh police said on Thursday (Jul 17) they had arrested 20 people, a day after clashes between supporters of ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and security personnel killed at least four people. The clashes erupted in Hasina's hometown of Gopalganj on Wednesday after members of her Awami League party tried to foil a rally by the National Citizens Party (NCP), made up of many students who spearheaded the uprising that toppled her government last year. Bricks, stones and shattered windows littered the area where the clashes occurred. More than 1,500 police, as well as soldiers and border guards, have been deployed in the district to enforce a curfew. "The law and order situation in Gopalganj is currently under control and remains peaceful," the police said in a statement on Thursday. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh, hailed from Gopalganj and Hasina, his daughter, also contested elections from the district. Jibitesh Biswas, director of the Gopalganj District Hospital, said on Thursday that four people "were brought in dead" after the clashes. Biswas said shots were also fired in front of the hospital and that at least 18 wounded people were also brought in. "Three of them are in critical condition with wounds to the chest, back of the head, and leg," he said. Ramjan Sheikh, an 18-year-old mason, died of bullet wounds, his family told AFP, blaming the military for his death. "They trampled on his chest ... We rushed to the hospital only to find his lifeless body soaked in blood," Mohammed Kalim Munshi, Ramjan's uncle, said. AFP could not independently verify the claim. The Bangladeshi army said its soldiers intervened, along with the police, to control an "unruly crowd". "In response, the crowd grew more aggressive, threw molotov (cocktails) and brickbats compelling the Army to use force in self-defence," it said in a statement. A 24-year-old Gopalganj resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the NCP should have understood that the town would not "accept any disrespect" towards Rahman. "But their leaders continued rants against Mujibur (Rahman)," the resident said. Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra said "the application of excessive force on people in Gopalganj and shooting at them blatantly violates human rights standards and the constitution".
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Bangladesh police arrest 20 after deadly clashes in ousted premier's hometown
GOPALGANJ, Bangladesh: Bangladesh police said on Thursday (Jul 17) they had arrested 20 people, a day after clashes between supporters of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and security personnel killed at least four people. The clashes erupted in Hasina's hometown of Gopalganj on Wednesday after members of her Awami League party tried to foil a rally by the National Citizens Party (NCP), made up of many students who spearheaded the uprising that toppled her government last year. Bricks, stones and shattered windows littered the area where the clashes occurred. More than 1,500 police, as well as soldiers and border guards, have been deployed in the district to enforce a curfew. "The law and order situation in Gopalganj is currently under control and remains peaceful," the police said in a statement on Thursday. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of Bangladesh, hailed from Gopalganj and Hasina, his daughter, also contested elections from the district. Jibitesh Biswas, director of the Gopalganj District Hospital, said on Thursday that four people "were brought in dead" after the clashes. Biswas said shots were also fired in front of the hospital and that at least 18 wounded people were also brought in. "Three of them are in critical condition with wounds to the chest, back of the head, and leg," he said. Ramjan Sheikh, an 18-year-old mason, died of bullet wounds, his family told AFP, blaming the military for his death. "They trampled on his chest ... We rushed to the hospital only to find his lifeless body soaked in blood," Mohammed Kalim Munshi, Ramjan's uncle, said. AFP could not independently verify the claim. The Bangladeshi army said its soldiers intervened, along with the police, to control an "unruly crowd". "In response, the crowd grew more aggressive, threw molotov (cocktails) and brickbats compelling the Army to use force in self-defence," it said in a statement. A 24-year-old Gopalganj resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the NCP should have understood that the town would not "accept any disrespect" towards Rahman. "But their leaders continued rants against Mujibur (Rahman)," the resident said. Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra said "the application of excessive force on people in Gopalganj and shooting at them blatantly violates human rights standards and the constitution".
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Three killed in Bangladesh after clashes in Sheikh Hasina's hometown
GOPALGANJ, Bangladesh: At least three people were killed in Bangladesh on Wednesday (Jul 16) after clashes broke out between police and supporters of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, authorities said. The clashes were triggered after members of Hasina's Awami League attempted to foil a rally by the National Citizens Party (NCP), made up of many students who spearheaded the uprising last year. Three people were killed after police got involved, and 17 others sustained various injuries, including bullet wounds, said Monoj Baral, a nurse at the Gopalganj District Hospital. "One of the deceased was identified as Ramjan Sikdar. Families took away two other bodies," Baral told AFP. Gopalganj authorities imposed a curfew in the district following the violence. Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus termed the attempt to foil the NCP rally "a shameful violation of their fundamental rights". "This heinous act ... will not go unpunished," a statement from his office said. The NCP was scheduled to hold the rally as part of their countrywide "July March" programme to commemorate the uprising anniversary, local media reported. Gopalganj is a stronghold of the Awami League, as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - the founding president of Bangladesh - hailed from this district, and Hasina also contested elections from this constituency. Hasnat Abdullah, an NCP coordinator, said those rallying took refuge at a police station after being attacked. "We don't feel safe at all. They threatened to burn us alive," Hasnat told AFP.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
At least 3 dead as Bangladesh police clash with supporters of ousted leader Hasina
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladeshi security forces on Wednesday clashed with supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leaving at least three people dead and scores injured, a hospital official said. The violence erupted in the morning and spread as a new political party formed by students who led the uprising against Hasina in August last year announced a march toward southwestern Gopalganj district, Hasina's ancestral home, and her Awami League party's stronghold. TV footage showed pro-Hasina activists armed with sticks attacking police and setting vehicles on fire as a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying the leaders of the National Citizen Party arrived as part of commemorations of the uprising. Top leaders of the party took shelter in the office of the local police chief as footage showed some of them were being escorted by soldiers to an armored vehicle for safety. Jibitesh Biswas, a senior official of a state-run hospital, told reporters that at least three people were brought in dead. Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since Hasina was toppled and fled to India. The interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, took over three days after her ouster and pledged to restore order. He said a new election would be held in April next year. Gopalganj is a politically sensitive district because Hasina father's mausoleum is located there. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's independence leader, was buried there after he was assassinated along with most of his family members in a military coup in 1971. The students' party launched its 'July March to Rebuild the Nation' on July 1 across all districts in Bangladesh as part of its drive to position itself as a new force in Bangladeshi politics, which as been largely dominated by two dynastic families. One is Hasina's Awami League party, and the other is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, headed by Hasina's archrival Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Bangladesh struggles to contain the fallout of an uprising that toppled its leader last year
DHAKA: Bangladesh was on the cusp of charting a new beginning last year after its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her to flee to India. As the head of a new interim government, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus promised to hold a credible election to return to democracy, initiate electoral and constitutional reforms and restore peace on the streets after hundreds were killed in weeks of violence that began on July 15, 2024. A year later, the Yunus-led administration has struggled to contain the fallout of the uprising. Bangladesh finds itself mired in a growing political uncertainty, religious polarization and a challenging law-and-order situation. Here's what to know about Bangladesh a year after the protests that toppled Hasina. Chaotic political landscape Uncertainty about the future of democracy looms large in Bangladesh. The student protesters who toppled Hasina formed a new political party, promising to break the overwhelming influence of two major dynastic political parties — the Bangladesh Nationalists Party, or BNP, and Hasina's Awami League. But the party's opponents have accused it of being close to the Yunus-led administration and creating chaos for political mileage by using state institutions. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's political landscape has further fragmented after the country's largest Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, returned to politics more than a decade after it was suppressed by Hasina's government. Aligned with the student-led party, it's trying to fill the vacuum left by the Awami League, which was banned in May. Its leader, Hasina, is facing trial for crimes against humanity. The strength of Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, is unknown. Both BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami party are now at loggerheads over establishing supremacy within the administration and judiciary, and even university campuses. They are also differing over the timing of a new parliamentary election. Yunus has announced that the polls would be held in April next year, but poor law and order situation and a lack of clear-cut political consensus over it have created confusion. The chief of Bangladesh's military also wanted an election in December this year — a stance Yunus didn't like. 'Post-revolution honeymoons often don't last long, and Bangladesh is no exception,' says Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst and senior fellow of Asia Pacific Foundation. 'The interim government faced massive expectations to restore democracy and prosperity. But this is especially difficult to do as an unelected government without a public mandate.' Yunus wants reforms before election Yunus has delayed an election because he wants reforms — from changes to the constitution and elections to the judiciary and police. Discussions with political parties, except Hasina's Awami League, are ongoing. Some of the reforms include putting a limit on how many times a person can become the prime minister, introduction of a two-tier parliament, and appointment of a chief justice. There appears to be little consensus over some basic reforms. While both the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami parties have agreed to some of them with conditions, other proposals for basic constitutional reforms have become a sticking point. The Jamaat-e-Islami also wants to give the interim government more time to complete reforms before heading into polls, while BNP has been calling for an early election. The student-led party mostly follows the pattern of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Kugelman says the issue of reforms was meant to unite the country, but has instead become a flashpoint. 'There's a divide between those that want to see through reforms and give them more time, and those that feel it's time to wrap things up and focus on elections,' he says. Human rights and the rise of Islamists Human rights in Bangladesh have remained a serious concern under Yunus. Minority groups, especially Hindus, have blamed his administration for failing to protect them adequately. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council says minority Hindus and others have been targeted in hundreds of attacks over the last year. Hasina's party has also blamed the interim government for arresting tens of thousands of its supporters. The Yunus-led administration denies these allegations. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says while the interim government has stopped enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions that had occurred under the Hasina government, 'there has been little progress on lasting security sector reforms or to deliver on the pledge to create robust, independent institutions.' Meanwhile, Islamist factions — some of whom have proposed changes to women's rights and demanded introduction of Sharia law — are vying for power. Many of them are planning to build alliances with bigger parties like the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami. Such factions have historically struggled to gain significant electoral support despite Bangladesh being a Muslim majority, and their rise is expected to further fragment the country's political landscape. Diplomatic pivot and balancing with global powers During Hasina's 15-year rule, Bangladesh was India's closest partner in South Asia. After her ouster, the Yunus-led administration has moved closer to China, which is India's main rival in the region. Yunus' first state visit was to China in March, a trip that saw him secure investments, loans and grants. On the other hand, India is angered by the ousting of its old ally Hasina and hasn't responded to Dhaka's requests to extradite her. India stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis following Hasina's fall. Globally, Yunus seems to have strong backing from the West and the United Nations, and it appears Bangladesh will continue its foreign policy, which has long tried to find a balance between multiple foreign powers. But Kugelman says the country's biggest challenge may be the 'Trump factor.' In January, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, which had sought significant levels of US support during a critical rebuild period post Hasina's ouster. 'Dhaka must now reframe its relations with an unconventional US administration that will largely view Bangladesh through a commercial lens,' Kugelman says.
