Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
On June 5th, a ruling by the High Court declared the 2018 notification of the quota’s elimination in government posts to be illegal sparked unrest. On July 1th, the initiative was launched under the pretense of the student anti-discrimination movement.
Bangladesh has recently seen tight political control under Sheikh Hasina’s direction. An authoritarian administration was exposed after three strongly contested elections in a row due to allegations of fraud.
This regime maintained its hold on power by utilizing repression and generating terror. However, this hold was increasingly loosened by social and economic turmoil, especially among young people. Widespread corruption and a lack of job opportunities for young people, particularly in an unstable economy, were the main drivers of unrest.
Sheikh Hasina was seen as a symbol of corruption and a lack of openness in government affairs, which is why the protests grew quickly. The diaspora’s support for the demonstrators and the international community’s response increased pressure on the government. Political pressure on the administration increased as a result of large-scale protests that took place in numerous locations throughout the world and received extensive coverage from international media.
Images and videos showing acts of brutality by the government had a significant influence on public opinion. People’s perspectives were changed and support for the protest movements was increased as a result of the information’s social media dissemination, particularly among young people.
The authorities used excessive brutality against the protestors in an effort to put an end to the disturbance. Numerous demonstrators lost their lives as a result of the deployment of live ammunition and helicopter gunfire.
Protests extended widely as a result of the tremendous public and international outrage these actions caused. Deep societal discontent was brought about by the 41% youth unemployment rate, pervasive economic and governmental corruption, and repression of dissent. Widespread protests were sparked by the public’s growing dissatisfaction with the existing quo.
The government’s financial corruption and money laundering contributed to the problem. The diaspora’s support for the home protestors and protests overseas put a great deal of pressure on the government.
The people of Bangladesh have never seen such a defeat or such a triumph. Sheikh Hasina’s terrible collapse and terrible consequences can be linked to her conceit, egotism, and propensity to treat people with less respect when they disagree with her. She has also made terrible choices that were cloaked in flattery.
She became more and more reckless and brave, not realizing that her actions were causing her own death. Everyone in the country was enraged by her last act. Subsequently, the protest against discrimination among students transformed into a unified call for Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and a stop to her misdeeds.
Her sudden transformation from a well-known person to a fearsome, autocratic leader drew criticism from both domestic and foreign quarters. When more people died while carrying out her instructions, more people joined the movement. Streetwalkers are mothers with their children. More female students are taking part in this program.
Following the fall of the Hasina government, many analysts predicted that military rule would be installed in Bangladesh. Even if the army gained power, the people may have embraced it. However, the army first made a foresighted decision. Every political party is invited to the military headquarters.
The army head stated unequivocally that the temporary government would be established after consulting with everyone. The leaders of the student movement issued the most significant declaration.
They suggested the name Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He agreed to carry out this task. Dr. Yunus was the target of Sheikh Hasina’s vengeance. In reality, under his leadership, the politics of division may come to an end, and Bangladesh will move forward. Now, an interim government is required to carry out the essential state reforms before holding new elections.
Before closing this piece, it is vital and timely to examine an outline of the Interim Government’s tasks. The interim administration should quickly establish an internationally recognized and unbiased commission of investigation under the United Nations to prosecute crimes against humanity, as well as a special tribunal to bring to account those guilty for all of the uprising’s killings and torture.
This step is critical for restoring confidence in the rule of law and accountability. Furthermore, the interim government must take considerable steps to recompense families who have lost loved ones during recent protests in the last 15 years.
It is also vital to reject all bogus cases created for the purposes of tyranny and conspiracy We believe that the fascist administration that has controlled Bangladesh for the past decade is essentially a sort of constitutional dictatorship or fascism.
As a result, establishing a liberal democratic system will be difficult without considerable revisions to the current constitution. In light of this, the Interim Government should speed up the constitutional reform process by conducting elections to form a Constituent Assembly within the permitted six months. This council should be responsible for revising the constitution in response to substantial difficulties.
One of the most significant reforms should be restricting the prime minister’s term to two terms to prevent an unequal allocation of power, as well as ensuring MPs’ freedom to vote in parliament without regard to party affiliation.
It is recommended that Social Security Committees be established at the union, upazila, and local government levels to promote rural development and peacekeeping. Various sub-committees can be formed for social development under the banner of social security under the supervision of the head teacher or principal of the school college by screening the honest, responsible, principled, and acceptable people of society to select good and ideal people.
In this case, a district- and upazila-based monitoring committee is very important, and above all, there is a need to form a security council with high power at the national level. Bangladesh will be trauma-free, and the nation will breathe a sigh of relief. Above all, a new path of progress will be revealed by keeping the flag of a peaceful and humane Bangladesh high; this is the expectation of the common people from the new government.
(The author is a former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP; columnist and researcher.)
