Bangladesh was devastated akin to Gaza, Yunus tells Guardin
News Desk :
In August, Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh to find his country in turmoil. Following a student-led revolution that ousted Sheikh Hasina after 15 years of authoritarian rule, the streets were stained with blood, and morgues were filled with the bodies of over 1,000 protesters and children, victims of police violence. Hasina fled the country in a helicopter as civilians looted her residence, seeking retribution for her regime’s atrocities.
At 84, Yunus, a Nobel laureate known for his pioneering work in microfinance, had distanced himself from politics due to years of persecution by Hasina, who viewed him as a threat. However, when student protesters requested his leadership to form an interim government and restore democracy, he accepted the challenge.
Yunus in an interview with The Guardian, UK described the state of Bangladesh upon his assumption of power as catastrophic, likening it to a devastated nation akin to Gaza, but with its institutions and policies in ruins rather than just its infrastructure.
His tenure has been marked by efforts to address the legacy of Hasina’s rule, which was marred by allegations of tyranny, violence, and corruption. The violent protests in July and August, which resulted in over 1,400 deaths, have been condemned by the UN as potentially amounting to crimes against humanity, a claim Hasina has denied.
Since taking charge, Yunus has initiated significant reforms. Senior police officers, no longer shielded by Hasina, have faced prosecution for extrajudicial killings, and secret detention centres have been dismantled.
Human rights commissions have been established, and Hasina is now facing numerous charges, which she denies. Yunus has committed to holding Bangladesh’s first free and fair elections in decades between December 2023 and March 2026, after which he plans to relinquish power.
Despite Yunus’s respected status, concerns about his governance and the pace of reform have emerged. Political parties, particularly the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), are eager to regain power and are pressuring Yunus to expedite elections, questioning his legitimacy. Additionally, the student leaders of the revolution have formed their own political party, further complicating the political landscape.
The security situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated, with police reluctant to return to their posts amid public anger and criminal charges stemming from their actions under Hasina. Gang violence is rampant in Dhaka, and minority groups face harassment. Protests have erupted demanding the resignation of the home affairs minister due to his failure to address rising crime. While Yunus has dismissed claims of increased insecurity, others warn that the situation could spiral out of control, jeopardising the possibility of free elections.
Bangladesh’s army chief, Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, has expressed concerns about the country’s “state of anarchy,” suggesting that ongoing divisions could threaten national sovereignty.
Although Yunus claims to have a good relationship with the military, the general’s remarks have been interpreted as a critique of his leadership and a potential warning of military intervention.