Bangladesh: First Reform, Then National Elections
By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam
18 September 2024
Escorted by an unprecedented public support, the interim government of Bangladesh took charge on 8 August 2024 in Dhaka under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, principally to conduct a credible national election within 90 days, which was allegedly missing for decades in the south Asian nation. But the ground reality may compel the caretaker government to go for a massive reform in various institutions & agencies before holding the polls in the 170 million people’s nation and it may take two to three years.
Prof Yunus-led interim government had recently announced the formation of six commissions to bring reforms in various major segments including the police- public administrations, anti-corruption agency, judiciary, electoral system and even the constitution, which was adopted after a secular Bangladesh was born out of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1971. It’s accepted by the majority of Bangladeshi nationals that only after due reforms, precisely in the electoral exercises, the free, fair and participatory elections are possible.
“The commissions will complete their works within the next three months. Based on their reports, the interim government will organize consultative meetings with the major political parties. Finally, a broad-based consultative meeting engaging representatives from the student community, business fraternity, civil society, political activists and government agencies will be organized to settle the framework for reforms,” said Prof Yunus.
He added that the interim government has to rebuild the country as its longest serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina destroyed all institutions and devastated the economy during her 15 years long dictatorial rule in Bangladesh. The Awami League chief even tainted the image of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman- who led Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) to create a new nation, asserted Prof Yunus, adding that the extraordinary outrage by some agitators against Bangabandhu was visible during the July and August uprising across Bangladesh to oust Hasina from Ganabhawan (PMO of Bangladesh).
Hasina was compelled to resign and subsequently leave the country on 5 August following a student-initiated movement that turned into an unprecedented mass anger against the government. But initially it was a peaceful protest demonstration on the prestigious Dhaka University campus on 1 July which demanded the reservation quota for the dependents of freedom fighters’ families (who fought against the brutal Pakistani forces and also sacrificed) in the government jobs to be abolished. But the agitation turned violent as Bangladesh Chhatra League and Juba League (student and youth wing of ruling Awami League) workers targeted the agitators. Soon it spread to other university campuses and urban localities like Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Comilla, Khulna, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Barisal, etc to only emerge as a national outrage against the Hasina-led government.
The general population, who were seemingly unhappy with the Hasina regime that achieved the fourth consecutive victory in this year’s national elections (on 7 January) with no opposition parties on the ground, joined the movement turning it to be an astounding challenge to Hasina. She was given shelter by India following ‘a short notice request’. Otherwise, New Delhi has not made any official declaration about her status as an asylum seeker in the largest democracy on Earth. Nothing extra information is available, if Hasina was allowed to stay in India as long as she wants or the iron lady was looking for a third country as her next destination. Officially no nation has appreciated New Delhi for giving shelter to Hasina and none comes with an open invitation to her as well.
Nearly 850 people were killed and over 30,000 sustained injuries in the turmoil that engulfed Bangladesh since the middle of July. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that no less than one thousand attacks were also materialized against the Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh after the Hasina regime fell. India’s largest socio-cultural organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also came out with a media statement expressing serious concern over the incidents of violence against Hindus, Buddhists and other minority communities there.
RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale commented that cruelty like targeted killings, looting, arson and heinous crimes against women belonging to Hindus and other minorities and attacks on temples in the neighbouring country were intolerable. Hosabale expected that the interim government would take strict action to immediately stop such incidents. Requesting all political parties in India to stand in solidarity with the persecuted communities of Bangladesh, Hosabale urged New Delhi to make every effort to ensure the safety of Hindu-Buddhists in the Muslim majority nation.
Contrary to earlier years, the Hindu and other religious minorities (who constitute hardly 10 percent of the population) led at least four spectacular demonstrations in Dhaka and Chittagong. Waving the Bangladesh national flag, thousands of agitators on 13 September in both the cities demanded their socio-political dues. The protesters blocked the Shahbag intersection of the capital city to raise their demand to take swift & concrete actions against the continued attacks on religious minorities and their sacred places. Representatives from Sanatani Adikhar Andolan, a coalition of Hindu organizations like Hindu Jagaran Mancha, National Hindu Forum, Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, etc criticized the government for failing to address their demands time and again.
They also submitted an eight-point charter of demands including a fair probe into each and every incident of attacks on Hindu-Buddhist families and properties with an aim to punish the perpetrators under the law. Moreover, their compensation and rehabilitation, formation of a minority commission and ministry, reservation of seats in national assembly, etc are also in the list of demands. They made it clear that they are legitimate citizens of Bangladesh and must not be termed as outsiders or agents of Bharat. They will never leave Bangladesh as it’s their native place, asserted the demonstrators, adding that the authorities must therefore ensure security for them.
Earlier, in a televised address to the nation on 11 September, Prof Yunus reiterated the primary task of his government to ensure justice and accountability for the killings which took place in July and August. He remembered the sacrifice of hundreds of students, journalists and civilians from all walks of life to end the 15-year dictatorship of fascist Hasina, who led a brutal genocide right up until her downfall. Speaking about thousands of others, who were injured, crippled for life and many lost their eyesight as Hasina’s enforcers targeted their eyes when firing rubber bullets, the soft spoken gentleman with a strong commitment stated that the government will ensure their medical treatments. He also stated that the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution of Bangladesh and the government must respect everyone’s opinions even with critical views.
By now, Prof Yunus-led administrations have achieved some diplomatic success in different fronts along with a sustained public trust. The widely acclaimed banker turned social-enterprise motivator Prof Yunus recently received encouraging messages from various development partners, global leaders and institutions. Nearly hundred Nobel laureates from different parts of the world sent a letter of appreciation and good will to Prof Yunus, where the signatories included former US President Barack Obama, human rights activist Shirin Ebadi and a number of elected public personalities, business leaders and civil society representatives.
Understood as a Washington favourite, Prof Yunus recently received a high level US delegation in Dhaka, where they assured necessary support for the economic growth, financial stability and development initiatives in Bangladesh. The delegation, arrived in Dhaka after wrapping up the New Delhi visit, responded to Prof Yunus positively that Washington will support rebuilding the country and carrying out vital reforms to benefit the people of Bangladesh. Lately, Asian Development Bank (second largest multilateral development partner of Bangladesh after World Bank) also agreed to provide a large amount of budgetary support to the interim government.
Prof Yunus reiterated on different occasions that Dhaka will always prefer to maintain healthy relations with a forward looking neighbour like India. He only expected that the relationship should be guided with fairness and equality. Earlier on 16 August, Prof Yunus dialed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had a fruitful discussion. PM Modi emphasised on protection of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, where Prof Yunus assured that his government is committed to ensure security to all minorities. He also invited the Indian premier along with a group of journalists to visit Bangladesh at his convenience. Next day, he also joined New Delhi-hosted Third Voice of Global South Summit virtually from Dhaka.
Meanwhile, hundreds of police complaints were lodged against Hasina and her associates accusing them of being the mastermind of massacre in July and the first few days in August. Recently, a case was filed against Hasina accusing her of issuing death threats to Prof Yunus and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia. Hasina commented in an event on 18 May 2022 that both of them were conspirators to the new bridge over Padma river. Hasina wanted to bring them to Padma bridge and throw them into the river.
Complaints are also filed against Hasina under the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh), which was incidentally redefined by Hasina herself in 2010 with an aim to probe atrocities during the 1971 liberation war and punish the Pakistani collaborators (often termed as Razakars). Now the interim government faces public pressure to extradite Hasina for trials in Dhaka. Needless to mention that the legal process to bring her back to Bangladesh has already been initiated.
Initially it was believed that the exit of Hasina would only benefit the prime opposition BNP (which boycotted the last general elections) and other Islamic parties in the national polls. But neither of them today enjoy public support, not to speak of Hasina’s Awami League and political parties in the country. The ground reality may inspire a new political entity led by a group of fresh and young people to take control of Bangladesh in absence of the seasoned political leaders at the backdrop of electoral reforms under a transformed election commission in Bangladesh.
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Nava Thakuria is a northeast India-based professional journalist who is an engineering graduate.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/current-affairs/bangladesh-reform-national-elections/d/133228
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