Recently, a massive gathering consisting of tens of thousands of students and supporters paraded through the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to mark the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office. The event, known as the “March for Martyrs,” paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the protests leading to Hasina’s ousting. Demonstrators, predominantly Muslim male students, brandished Bangladeshi and Palestinian flags while chanting slogans demanding justice.
The upheaval that culminated in Hasina’s departure resulted in over 1,000 casualties due to anti-government demonstrations triggered by the implementation of public-sector job quotas. Following her exile to India, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of an interim government to restore order, institute reforms, and arrange fresh elections in the wake of the civil unrest, the most severe since the country’s independence.
Bangladeshi students urge return of ex-PM for trial
Bangladesh’s students are calling for Hasina’s repatriation from India to face trial for the violence that transpired last month. The encroaching political turbulence has led to the dismissal of several high-ranking officials, including the chief election commissioner and central bank governor, in recent weeks.
UN to probe rights violations in Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year reign came to a close following the controversial re-election to her fourth consecutive term earlier this year, prompting the United Nations to launch a fact-finding mission to investigate human rights abuses during the uprising upon the mandate of the provisional administration.
As the nation navigates this period of transition, calls for accountability and stability echo through its streets, emphasizing the need for justice and reform.
