Party of ousted Bangladeshi PM Hasina plans protests

 

FILE – A mural of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is posted on a pillar with a garland of shoes hanging on it, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sept. 28, 2024.

The party of Bangladesh\’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may soon begin street agitation against the interim government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, according to a party leader.

"We are planning to demonstrate and start our political activities," Shafiul Alam Chowdhury, organizing secretary of the Awami League, told VOA on Friday.

Chowdhury is among dozens of Awami League leaders who fled Bangladesh after a student-led mass uprising toppled Hasina\’s regime in August. The iron-fisted leader was serving her fourth consecutive term when she was forced to resign on August 5 and flee to India in a military helicopter.

Since the fall of the regime, dozens of party leaders have been arrested, many in connection with the violent crackdown on protesters that killed hundreds across the country between July and August. Thousands of Awami League workers and supporters have gone underground, fearing mob attacks.

On Wednesday, the interim government banned the Awami League\’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, declaring it a terrorist organization.

Earlier this month, the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others linked with the ousted regime.

Speaking to VOA over the phone, Chowdhury said the party is working to unite its ranks and is reaching out to other like-minded political forces to launch protests against the interim government.

"After two weeks or one month, we can move," the Awami League leader said when asked how soon his party was planning to take to the streets.

Major political parties in Bangladesh back the interim government agenda to reform institutions that they say the Awami League destroyed through massive political interference in the past 15 years.

However, political parties are also publicly pushing the Yunus government to ensure a swift return to democracy. One of the country\’s biggest political parties is dissatisfied with the progress so far.

"This government is going a bit slow," said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

"The election commission, they have resigned. But they [the interim government] have not formed the new election commission," Alamgir told VOA at his residence in Dhaka earlier this month.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, speaks to VOA in Dhaka, Oct 6, 2024. Camera: Rubel Hassan.

Ten commissions, comprising civil society activists, retired officials and academics, are tasked with proposing reforms in key areas including the judiciary, police, constitution, electoral system, mass media and labor rights.

Six of the commissions announced in September must submit their proposals by December 31. However, reviewing those proposals, seeking political consensus for them and implementing them may take several months.








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Pain, pride and fear as Bangladesh heals wounds of violent summer




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