[VIDEOS] Bangladesh army chief confirms PM Hasina’s resignation [Update at Post#189]

[sweep_shot]

Bangladesh students call for nationwide civil disobedience​

Student leaders rallied Bangladeshis on Saturday for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government weathered a worsening backlash over a deadly police crackdown on protesters.

Rallies against civil service job quotas sparked days of mayhem last month that killed more than 200 people in some of the worst unrest of Hasina’s 15-year tenure.

Troop deployments briefly restored order but crowds hit the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority nation, heeding a call by student leaders to press the government for more concessions.

Students Against Discrimination, the group responsible for organizing the initial protests, urged their compatriots to launch an all-out non-cooperation movement from Sunday.

“This includes non-payment of taxes and utility bills, strikes by government workers and a halt to overseas remittance payments through banks,” the group’s Asif Mahmud told AFP.

Mahmud’s fellow student leaders also said another round of nationwide rallies would be staged on Saturday.

“Please don’t stay at home. Join your nearest protest march,” Mahmud wrote on Facebook.

Students are demanding a public apology from Hasina for last month’s violence and the dismissal of several of her ministers.

They have also insisted that the government reopens schools and universities around the country, all of which were shuttered at the height of the unrest.

Crowds on the street have gone further, chanting demands for Hasina to leave office.

Hasina, 76, has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.

Her government is accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists.

Demonstrations began in early July over the reintroduction of a quota scheme — since scaled back by Bangladesh’s top court — that reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups.

With around 18 million young Bangladeshis out of work, according to government figures, the move upset graduates facing an acute employment crisis.

The protests had remained largely peaceful until attacks on demonstrators by police and pro-government student groups.

Hasina’s government eventually imposed a nationwide curfew, deployed troops and shut down the nation’s mobile Internet network for 11 days to restore order.

Foreign governments condemned the clampdown, with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell this week calling for an international probe into the “excessive and lethal force against protesters.”

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters last weekend that security forces had operated with restraint but were “forced to open fire” to defend government buildings.

At least 32 children were among those killed last month, the UN said Friday.

Bangladesh students call for nationwide civil disobedience

DHAKA: Student leaders rallied Bangladeshis on Saturday for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government weathered a worsening backlash over a deadly police crackdown on protesters. Rallies against civil service job quotas sparked days of mayhem last...

www.arabnews.pk

Hasina seems to be in trouble. People are angry. People are on the streets. Not just in Dhaka but countrywide.

 

[sweep_shot]

Things are looking good. Here are some news I have learned from social media (from some major Bangladeshi platforms):

1) A large section of BD army are not interested to follow Hasina's order of shooting protesters. This is a very good news.

2) Some of the top-level Awami League leaders have already left the country. Sheikh Hasina is also ready to leave but hasn't left yet.

3) Hasina's henchmen (Chatra League) are feeling hesitant to fight protesters on the streets. Saw their leaked WhatsApp conversations.

4) It is now no longer a students' protest. Other groups have joined also. This is now whole of Bangladesh vs Awami League.

In a nutshell, Awami League is in the backfoot. May Allah (SWT) grant protesters victory and may this evil dictatorship end once and for all.

 

[SportsWarrior]

Bangladesh have experienced 25 years of catfight between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. It caused a lot of damage.

Also, I believe commander-in-chief should always be a male.

Lol your country was created by the iron lady of India, a woman prime minister

 

[BouncerGuy]

Bangladesh on the boil as rival activists hold marches

Bangladesh is tense as both anti-government protesters and the governing Awami League are set to hold rallies across the country on Sunday.

The demonstrations are happening in the aftermath of deadly violence during protests last month over quotas in civil service jobs, in which more than 200 people were killed.

Around 10,000 people have been reportedly detained in a major crackdown by security forces in the past two weeks. Those arrested included opposition supporters and students.

Students Against Discrimination, a group behind the anti-government demonstrations, has called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina to step down.

The group has announced a nationwide disobedience movement starting from Sunday, urging citizens not to pay taxes or any utility bills. The students have also called for a shutdown of all factories and public transport.

The Awami League, the party of Ms Hasina, is also holding marches across the country on Sunday.

With both sides set to hold rallies there are concerns that there could be further violence.

The next few days are seen as crucial for both camps.

"Sheikh Hasina should not only resign, there should be a trial for the killings, looting and corruption,” Nahid Islam, one of the student movement's leaders, told thousands of people at a gathering on Saturday in Dhaka.

The protests pose a momentous challenge to Ms Hasina, who was elected for a fourth consecutive term in January elections, boycotted by the main opposition.

Students took to the streets last month over the reservation of many civil service jobs for relatives of the veterans of Bangladesh’s independence war with Pakistan in 1971.

Most of the quota has now been scaled back by the government following a government ruling, but students have continued to protest, demanding justice for those killed and injured. Now they want Ms Hasina to step down.

Supporters of Ms Hasina have ruled out her resignation.

Earlier, Ms Hasina offered unconditional dialogue with the student leaders, saying she wanted the violence to end.

“I want to sit with the agitating students of the movement and listen to them. I want no conflict," she said.

But the student protesters have rejected her offer.

Ms Hasina called in the military last month to restore order after several police stations and state buildings were set on fire during the protests.

The Bangladeshi army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, held a meeting with junior officers in Dhaka to assess the security situation.

“Bangladesh Army has always stood by the people and will continue to do so for the interest of people and in any need of the state," Gen Zaman said, according to a release by the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate.

The protests have restarted in several cities and the government is struggling to control the rising tide of anger over how it initially responded to the demonstrations.

Bangladeshi media says most of those killed in last month’s protests were shot dead by police. Thousands were injured.

The government argues that police opened fire only in self-defence and to protect state properties.

BBC

 

[LongHorn]

The police are no longer engaging protestors, they are staying back and protestors are also not provoking them
Many AL top MPs fled the country
Even pro govt media reporting live from protest locations and broadcasting slogans by thousands to topple Hasina, unthinkable even a week back

A million + people were on the streets of Dhaka yesterday

 

[Dhakar Pola]

I want to ask everyone here to pray for peace in my country. Today again I came back from office with my life in my hand. Please pray for peace.

 

[sweep_shot]

The police are no longer engaging protestors, they are staying back and protestors are also not provoking them
Many AL top MPs fled the country
Even pro govt media reporting live from protest locations and broadcasting slogans by thousands to topple Hasina, unthinkable even a week back

A million + people were on the streets of Dhaka yesterday

Indeed.

I am sensing good news very soon. In sha Allah.

May the bloods of the brave protesters not go in vain. They are the modern day freedom fighters.

 

[FearlessRoar]

At least 30 killed as Bangladesh protesters renew call for Hasina to quit​

At least 30 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a new round of violence in Bangladesh as police fired tear gas and lobbed stun grenades to disperse tens of thousands of protesters who returned to the streets to ask Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.

The deaths were reported by the police and doctors on Sunday in the capital Dhaka and the northern districts of Bogura, Pabna and Rangpur, as well as in Magura in the west, Comilla in the east, and Barisal and Feni in the south.

The demonstrators are demanding Hasina’s resignation after earlier protests in July that began with students calling for an end to a quota system for government jobs and escalated into violence that killed 200 people.

Hasina said those who were engaging in the “sabotage” and the destruction in the name of protests were no longer students, but criminals, and said the people should deal with them with iron hands.

Authorities have blocked internet access and imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.

Deaths were reported from at least 11 districts including Bogura, Magura, Rangpur and Sirajganj districts, where the protesters backed by the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed with police and the activists of the ruling Awami League party and its associated bodies.

Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka, described the situation as “volatile and dangerous”. “The protesters are saying that they are not going to move, until their government steps down,” he said.

“People are extremely worried what’s going to happen,” Chowdhury said, adding that the crowd of protesters is growing. He also reported clashes between the protesters and supporters of the Awami League.

Protesters called for “noncooperation”, urging people not to pay taxes and utility bills and not show up for work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh. Offices, banks and factories opened, but commuters in Dhaka and other cities faced challenges getting to work.

Prapti Taposhi, a student activist who witnessed clashes with police, told Al Jazeera the police were engaged in running battles with the demonstrators.

“I am on the street right now, and I can see so many people here. This is not just a student protest or a ‘quota protest’,” she said, adding that protesters will defy the threat of a curfew.

The government, meanwhile, announced a holiday from Monday to Wednesday. Courts will remain closed for an indefinite period. Authorities also closed schools and universities across the country.

Mobile internet service was off on Sunday, while Facebook and messaging apps including WhatsApp were inaccessible even on broadband internet. Junior Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said mobile internet and messaging services were off to help prevent violence.

The deadly protests began last month as students demanded an end to a quota system that reserved 30 percent of government jobs for the families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan in 1971.

As violence intensified, the country’s Supreme Court scaled back the quota system to 5 percent of jobs, with 3 percent for relatives of veterans.

But protests have continued demanding accountability for violence the demonstrators blame on the government’s use of excessive force.

The unrest, which spurred the government to shut down internet services, is its biggest test since January when deadly protests erupted after Hasina’s Awami League won a fourth straight term in elections boycotted by the BNP.

The protests have now grown into a wider antigovernment movement across the South Asian nation of some 170 million people. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.

Critics of Hasina, along with several rights groups, have accused her government of using excessive force to stamp out the movement, a charge it denies.

“We want the government to resign,” Jahirul Islam, a restaurant worker in Dhaka, told Al Jazeera.

At least 30 killed as Bangladesh protesters renew call for Hasina to quit

Protests over jobs quota system morph into a wider antigovernment movement demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[sweep_shot]

I have read reports on social media that over 1300 died countrywide. Many are underreported.

Anyway, tides are turning. People are furious and have started to attack Awami League MPs/workers (some of them were killed).

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Bangladesh anti-government protests kill more than 70

At least 76 people have been killed in Bangladesh amid worsening clashes between police and anti-government protesters.

The unrest comes as student leaders have declared a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down.

Thirteen police officers were killed when thousands of people attacked a police station in the district of Sirajganj, police said.

The student protest started with a demand to abolish quotas in civil service jobs last month, but has now turned into a wider anti-government movement.

Both police and some supporters of the governing party were seen shooting at anti-government protesters with live ammunition. Police also used tear gas and rubber bullets.

The total death toll since the protest movement began in July now stands at over 270.

Anti-government protests turn deadly in Bangladesh

The protests, which began as a student movement against job quotas, have spiralled into nationwide unrest.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

Plans for the 'Long March to Dhaka'

Asif Mahmud, one of the key coordinators of the civil disobedience campaign, has outlined plans for today's planned demonstrations in Dhaka on Facebook.

He called on protesters to gather at 11:00 local time (05:00 GMT) at the Shaheed Minar, a national monument in the capital.

They will then walk to Shahbagh, where clashes broke out on Sunday - in what protesters have dubbed the "Long March to Dhaka".

Mr Mahmud added that Students Against Discrimination, a group behind the anti-government demonstrations, will hold a rally later today to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina.

BBC

 

[LongHorn]

Curfew in place
Internet shut down all across Bangladesh

Army chief to address nation at 2pm Bangladesh time

 

[LongHorn]

Speech delayed to 3pm

Tens of thousands of people marching peacefully to central dhaka from the outskirts

Strong rumors Hasina has resigned

 

[CricketCartoons]

Speech delayed to 3pm

Tens of thousands of people marching peacefully to central dhaka from the outskirts

Strong rumors Hasina has resigned

Hope the next PM will be someone other than those two women.

 

[LongHorn]

Hope the next PM will be someone other than those two women.

For sure
Dr Yunus will be good as an interim head

 

[Red-Indian]

Speech delayed to 3pm

Tens of thousands of people marching peacefully to central dhaka from the outskirts

Strong rumors Hasina has resigned

Most international outlets are also reporting that she's stepping down and getting out of Bangladesh. Glad for you guys though it creates a lot of uncertainty in India-Bangladesh relations going forward.

Doesn't seem like there has been a central figure to this revolt though so there's no immediate logical successor. Hopefully this doesn't lead to military rule and you find your way back to democracy quickly.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Bangladesh protest: Army chief to address nation as march starts​

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation is a "possibility", French news agency AFP reported on Monday, as six more people were killed in some of the worst violence since the birth of the South Asian nation more than five decades ago.

Hasina's resignation is a "possibility", AFP reported citing a senior aide. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Hasina and her sister had been taken to a "safe shelter" away from her official residence, a government source told Reuters.

"You see, the situation is very volatile. What is happening, I myself don’t know," Law Minister Anisul Huq told Reuters.

Student activists had called for a march to the capital Dhaka on Monday in defiance of a nationwide curfew to press Hasina to resign, a day after deadly clashes across the country killed nearly 100 people.

As protesters began to march in some places, armoured personnel carriers and troops patrolled the streets of the capital, Reuters TV showed. There was little civilian traffic, barring a few motorcycles and three-wheel taxis.

At least six people were killed in clashes between police and protesters in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas on Monday, the Daily Star newspaper reported. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Police hurled sound grenades in some parts of the city to disperse small groups of protesters, the Bengali language Prothom Alo newspaper reported.

Elsewhere, thousands of protesters had surrounded law enforcement officers stationed in front of a key building, it said.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who was due to address the nation at 2 p.m. local time (0800 GMT) would now do so at 3 p.m. (0900 GMT), an army officer told Reuters. "He is holding talks with some stakeholders, outside the military. That’s why the delay," the officer said.

The military spokesperson's office had earlier said that "the public is requested to refrain from violence and be patient," until the army chief's address, Prothom Alo reported.

Bangladesh has been engulfed by protests and violence that began last month after student groups demanded scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs.

That escalated into a campaign to seek the ouster of Hasina, who won a fourth straight term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition.

At least 91 people were killed and hundreds injured on Sunday in a wave of violence across the country of 170 million people as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of protesters.

Starting Sunday evening, a nationwide curfew has been imposed, the railways have suspended services and the country's huge garments industry has closed.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-protesters-call-march-dhaka-defiance-curfew-2024-08-05/

 

[oatmeal]

Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country according to BBC

 

[DeadlyVenom]

What will happen now?

Martial law or elections?

 

[Red-Indian]

What will happen now?

Martial law or elections?

The fact that the army chief is addressing the nation is not a very good omen. We know how most of the developing country army chiefs react in these power vacuum situations. If I hear the words "need for stability" in the speech, I'll know Bangladesh is set for a few years of martial law.

 

[MenInG]

From bbc

Summary
Sources are saying Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has left official residence for a "safer place" as protesters march through the capital, Dhaka

Student leaders have declared a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that the nation's long-serving leader step aside

On Sunday, at least 90 people were killed and hundreds more injured in clashes between police and tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Bangladesh on Sunday

Internet services were completely cut for several hours amid the "Long March to Dhaka" starting from Shaheed Minar, a national monument in the capital

The death toll includes at least 13 police officers, and an indefinite nationwide curfew has been put in place to curb further violence

The student protest - which has been ongoing since July - started with calls to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, but has since transformed into a much wider anti-government movement

At least 280 people have died as a result of the unrest so far, which has prompted the government to restrict access to internet services in some parts of the country

The UN has called for an end to the "shocking violence" and urged restraint from Bangladeshi politicians and security forces

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The fact that the army chief is addressing the nation is not a very good omen. We know how most of the developing country army chiefs react in these power vacuum situations. If I hear the words "need for stability" in the speech, I'll know Bangladesh is set for a few years of martial law.

Seems like it.

Army probably gave her the tap on the shoulder and told her to run as they weren't going to carry out orders anymore.

I wonder where she will go. If she seeks refuge in India then it will not be a good sign for India Bangladesh relations.

 

[oatmeal]

The risk of authoritarian governments is that it all looks very stable from the outside but internally there is discontent which is not addressed. Eventually it all boils over and once the protests gather momentum, they are hard to stop.

An open democracy looks messy and inefficient but there are pressure release valves built in for people to express their anger

 

[Red-Indian]

Seems like it.

Army probably gave her the tap on the shoulder and told her to run as they weren't going to carry out orders anymore.

I wonder where she will go. If she seeks refuge in India then it will not be a good sign for India Bangladesh relations.

The gulf or the UK is where most of these guys end up. I expect that's where she will go as well. She won't risk India since she'll have hopes of eventually coming back and escape to India would make her a pariah in Bangladesh. Most of these hated dictators come back like turds that don't flush...if not them their children. It's almost a universal rule.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The gulf or the UK is where most of these guys end up. I expect that's where she will go as well. She won't risk India since she'll have hopes of eventually coming back and escape to India would make her a pariah in Bangladesh. Most of these hated dictators come back like turds that don't flush...if not them their children. It's almost a universal rule.

Some Indian media sources are saying she boarded a helicopter to India.

its a strange move and a risky one if true.

 

[Red-Indian]

The risk of authoritarian governments is that it all looks very stable from the outside but internally there is discontent which is not addressed. Eventually it all boils over and once the protests gather momentum, they are hard to stop.

An open democracy looks messy and inefficient but there are pressure release valves built in for people to express their anger

Absolutely. The Pakistan's establishment has been smart to atleast maintain the veneer of Democracy over the last 20 years. Countries like Myanmar etc. haven't learnt.

Latest reports are she's boarded a chopper for an unknown destination and protestors have stormed the palace.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Bangladesh army chief confirms PM Hasina’s resignation

In an address to the nation, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the chief of army staff, has confirmed that Sheikh Hasina resigned and that an interim government would now run the country.

He urged citizens to keep trust in the army, which, he said, would return peace to the country.

“We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he said, calling on the public to exercise patience and cease any acts of violence and vandalism.

“We have invited representatives from all major political parties, and they have accepted our invitation and committed to collaborating with us,” the general added.

Al Jazeera

 

[oatmeal]

Latest reports are she's boarded a chopper for an unknown destination and protestors have stormed the palace.

India News channels are saying she's flown to India

 

[Red-Indian]

India News channels are saying she's flown to India

Unlikely to stay I'm guessing. More a staging point to catch a flight to her eventual destination. I don't doubt the Indian government provided her a chopper to get out of dodge in an emergency...she's been chaddi-buddies with Modi and the Indian government for ages. They won't want to keep her here and risk conflict with the new government though...nor would she want to stay.

 

[oatmeal]

Unlikely to stay I'm guessing. More a staging point to catch a flight to her eventual destination. I don't doubt the Indian government provided her a chopper to get out of dodge in an emergency...she's been chaddi-buddies with Modi and the Indian government for ages. They won't want to keep her here and risk conflict with the new government though...nor would she want to stay.

True, now reports say she's planning to leave for London

 

[CricketCartoons]

The fact that the army chief is addressing the nation is not a very good omen. We know how most of the developing country army chiefs react in these power vacuum situations. If I hear the words "need for stability" in the speech, I'll know Bangladesh is set for a few years of martial law.

Army rule is better than populist politicians. May India also get Army rule someday.

 

[oatmeal]

Army rule is better than populist politicians. May India also get Army rule someday.

Army rule is the worst possible option for a developing country. Things appear better for a while before the hits the fan. Then democracy is back and people start clamouring for army rule again. This cycle continues and there is no stability or long term thinking.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Army rule is the worst possible option for a developing country. Things appear better for a while before the **** hits the fan. Then democracy is back and people start clamouring for army rule again. This cycle continues and there is no stability or long term thinking.

The bangladeshi hindus will be relatively safer under the Army.

 

[Dios]

Big mistake letting her leave. She should have been arrested and placed on trial. Wherever she goes, hope the Bangladeshi community make her life hell and demand for her to be tried for human rights abuse.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

The immediate concern should be, Can the Army prevent a revenge massacre?
A considerable number of deaths took place.

 

[Red-Indian]

True, now reports say she's planning to leave for London

Why do all the world's despots, corrupt heads of state and dictators end up in London? They must be having tea-parties there and friendly competitions on who managed to do the most vile stuff and loot the most.

Big mistake letting her leave. She should have been arrested and placed on trial. Wherever she goes, hope the Bangladeshi community make her life hell and demand for her to be tried for human rights abuse.

These guys usually do. See Musharraf in Pakistan, Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka, Shinawatra in Thailand etc. There's too many buried bodies they know of, too many senior military guys they have raised to power themselves. The only guys who actually get caught like Gaddafi are those who've made so many enemies outside their country that they have no real place left to escape to.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Why do all the world's despots, corrupt heads of state and dictators end up in London? They must be having tea-parties there and friendly competitions on who managed to do the most vile stuff and loot the most.

These guys usually do. See Musharraf in Pakistan, Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka, Shinawatra in Thailand etc. There's too many buried bodies they know of, too many senior military guys they have raised to power themselves. The only guys who actually get caught like Gaddafi are those who've made so many enemies outside their country that they have no real place left to escape to.

Asylum friendly laws of UK. and UK likes to get involved in every little thing.

 

[FearlessRoar]

A ‘new Bangladesh and political order will be built’, student organisers say

Members of the Students Against Discrimination protest group say power “must be” handed over to the “revolutionary students and citizens”, adding that any other scenario will “not be accepted”.

“The fascists and murderers will be brought to justice on the soil of Bengal; no one will be given the chance to escape,” coordinators Mohammed Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud said in a joint statement on Facebook.

“By the evening, innocent people, political prisoners, and those who have been forcibly disappeared must be released.”

The statement added that not only will Hasina’s government go but the “fascist system” will also be abolished and a “new Bangladesh and political order will be built”.

“No one will leave the streets without achieving final victory,” it said.

Al Jazeera

 

[oatmeal]

Why do all the world's despots, corrupt heads of state and dictators end up in London? They must be having tea-parties there and friendly competitions on who managed to do the most vile stuff and loot the most.

It's geographically more accessible to the world than the US. The legal system is fairly independent so they can fight any extradition request for years in the courts. And lot of the world's black money finds its way to London and Dubai. More so Dubai which is being favoured by Russians a lot after the ukraine war

 

[FearlessRoar]

Hasina lands in India’s Agartala, local media reports say​

The Bangladeshi leader has landed in India’s northeastern city of Agartala after fleeing Dhaka, Indian media reports say.
New Delhi is set to offer a safe passage to Hasina, the reports added, citing intelligence sources.

Al Jazeera

 

[FearlessRoar]

‘Military rule not a solution at this moment’: Students Against Discrimination​

After the army chief’s statement, Students Against Discrimination, the group that has spearheaded the antigovernment protests, has issued a statement rejecting military rule, saying those who “brought revolution” will decide who rules the country.

“We believe that military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public, who have brought about this revolution and achieved victory, will decide who will take power in the country. We have driven out fascism, and we will not allow fascism to take root in Bangladesh in the future. We are committed to uprooting any fascist systems,” the group said in a statement.

“Therefore, military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public will decide who will be appointed to the interim government. The student coordinators of the movement will provide further details on this matter later.”

Al Jazeera

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Hasina lands in India’s Agartala, local media reports say​

The Bangladeshi leader has landed in India’s northeastern city of Agartala after fleeing Dhaka, Indian media reports say.
New Delhi is set to offer a safe passage to Hasina, the reports added, citing intelligence sources.

Al Jazeera

She is headed towards Delhi, she is somewhere flying over UP

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

‘Military rule not a solution at this moment’: Students Against Discrimination​

After the army chief’s statement, Students Against Discrimination, the group that has spearheaded the antigovernment protests, has issued a statement rejecting military rule, saying those who “brought revolution” will decide who rules the country.

“We believe that military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public, who have brought about this revolution and achieved victory, will decide who will take power in the country. We have driven out fascism, and we will not allow fascism to take root in Bangladesh in the future. We are committed to uprooting any fascist systems,” the group said in a statement.

“Therefore, military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public will decide who will be appointed to the interim government. The student coordinators of the movement will provide further details on this matter later.”

Al Jazeera

Removing a despot is easy, now who fills the power vacuum??
History has been rarely kind to leaderless revolts!

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Lol, videos of mob stealing chairs and cutlery from the Official residences !!

 

[oatmeal]

The students got what they wanted, they should stand down now and ask the opposition parties to form a unified government and hold elections. They can form a political party and fight elections if needed.

but the taste of power is hard to give up. They shouldnt try to form a new power centre.

 

[Red-Indian]

Lol, videos of mob stealing chairs and cutlery from the Official residences !!

History doesn't repeat but it rhymes. Such close parallels to the Sri Lanka revolt.

Pakistan next? The military there is a lot smarter and more ruthless though. Tough to see an exact parallel.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Removing a despot is easy, now who fills the power vacuum??
History has been rarely kind to leaderless revolts!

No, it is not easy. Ask Pakistanis. Imran still in jail, and it is BAU.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

No, it is not easy. Ask Pakistanis. Imran still in jail, and it is BAU.

Are you agreeing with me or disagreeing with me?

 

[AMSS]

I think it was only a year or so ago that I'd read bangladeshis and a lot of anti-Modi Indians talk about the economic miracle of that country, GDP per capita, textile exports etc.

If things were so good then what happened?

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

History doesn't repeat but it rhymes. Such close parallels to the Sri Lanka revolt.

Pakistan next? The military there is a lot smarter and more ruthless though. Tough to see an exact parallel.

Successful university student revolts rarely lead to stable democratic transitions.
Infact, I can't remember any such successful transition. Democracy is too slow a process for the young blood who taste victory.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

‘Military rule not a solution at this moment’: Students Against Discrimination​

After the army chief’s statement, Students Against Discrimination, the group that has spearheaded the antigovernment protests, has issued a statement rejecting military rule, saying those who “brought revolution” will decide who rules the country.

“We believe that military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public, who have brought about this revolution and achieved victory, will decide who will take power in the country. We have driven out fascism, and we will not allow fascism to take root in Bangladesh in the future. We are committed to uprooting any fascist systems,” the group said in a statement.

“Therefore, military rule is not a solution at this moment. The students and the public will decide who will be appointed to the interim government. The student coordinators of the movement will provide further details on this matter later.”

Al Jazeera

Will be interesting to see if Bangladeshis can resist army rule. Pakistan citizens more or less accepted it for decades with not much more than a shrug of the shoulders, even when one of their all time national heroes ended up in jail.

 

[oatmeal]

History doesn't repeat but it rhymes. Such close parallels to the Sri Lanka revolt.

Pakistan next? The military there is a lot smarter and more ruthless though. Tough to see an exact parallel.

The military removing IK turned out to be a very bad move in hindsight. He clearly enjoys a lot of popularity in the country and the new unity government had to take the blame for a lot of economic issues which are due to macro global conditions. IK would have to take the brunt of them if he was in power. They made him a martyr instead

If the economy doesnt improve quickly, all it takes is one wrong move and the country could go to the edge

 

[Local.Dada]

Will be interesting to see if Bangladeshis can resist army rule. Pakistan citizens more or less accepted it for decades with not much more than a shrug of the shoulders, even when one of their all time national heroes ended up in jail.

Bangladesh has already had a military coup before and they came out of it.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Bangladesh has already had a military coup before and they came out of it.

So did Pakistan ostensibly. But in reality the democratic govts in place in Pakistan were never really holding the reins. I wonder if Bangladesh might be following the same model now if the military have advised Hasina it's time to step down.

 

[Red-Indian]

Will be interesting to see if Bangladeshis can resist army rule. Pakistan citizens more or less accepted it for decades with not much more than a shrug of the shoulders, even when one of their all time national heroes ended up in jail.

I think the good thing here is that they've been out of military rule and under civilian quasi-dictatorship for 35 years now. Maybe it won't be so easy for the military to take over.

The current head of the military has also only been in place for a month so might be a little unsure of his base...he's son in law of a former army chief though so used to power.

On the flip side, the more the chaos on the streets continues, the more the general public will be willing to accept a (so-called) temporary martial law for the sake of stability. Also the big textile barons might prefer it. All this unrest and internet outages can't have been good for their commitments to produce for Walmart, M&S, Gap etc. Countries like Vietnam and Pakistan could easily grab market share if the troubles continue.

 

[Local.Dada]

So did Pakistan ostensibly. But in reality the democratic govts in place in Pakistan were never really holding the reins. I wonder if Bangladesh might be following the same model now if the military have advised Hasina it's time to step down.

Difference is Pak never came out of it because the later governments were by default proxy of the Military.

Bangladesh situation is different. Hasina became big enough to be the establishment and she was not cut down to size by army but more of a populist protest which forced army’s hand.

Appreciate your enthusiasm for topics pertaining to international conflicts. Would help if you brush up a little before amazing us with your English skills as a British man.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Bangladesh Army doesn't seem in any mood to rule. They are doing what a good military should do in such a scenario, trying to keep peace! Decent statements and intent else in such a scenario its straight Martial Law by Militaries.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Who is the Bangladesh army chief who announced Hasina's resignation?​

Just over a month after he became Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-Us-Zaman has been thrust into the limelight, announcing the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who fled the country on Monday.

Bangladesh has been engulfed by protests and violence that began last month after student groups demanded scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs. That escalated into a campaign to seek the ouster of Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years and most recently swept to a fourth straight term in January.

Nearly 250 people have been killed in the violence.

Zaman, 58, assumed the duties of army chief on June 23 for a period of three years - the normal tenure for the position.

Born in Dhaka in 1966, he is married to Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the daughter of General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, who was army chief from 1997 to 2000.

Zaman holds a Masters degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King's College, London, according to the Bangladesh Army website.

Prior to becoming the army chief, he served as the Chief of General Staff for little over six months - a role in which he oversaw, among other things, military operations and intelligence, Bangladesh's role in UN peacekeeping operations, and budget.

In a career spanning three-and-a-half decades, he has also worked closely with Hasina, serving as the principal staff officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Minister's Office.

Zaman has also been associated with the modernization of the army, the army website said.

As protests rocked the country once again this month, Zaman called upon army personnel to ensure security of people's lives, properties, and important state installations.

Source: Reuters

 

[Rana]

The military removing IK turned out to be a very bad move in hindsight. He clearly enjoys a lot of popularity in the country and the new unity government had to take the blame for a lot of economic issues which are due to macro global conditions. IK would have to take the brunt of them if he was in power. They made him a martyr instead

What a load of deluded waffle

 

[oatmeal]

The opposition should form a unity government and hold elections again. That's the best way out of this mess. If students dont stand down things could get messy because they have no clear demands to be met now. Hasina resigned and the job quota has been scrapped.

 

[oatmeal]

What a load of deluded waffle

lol, great rebuttal. I have always been a critic of IK, I never considered him a good prime minister because of his erratic and emotional decision making.

But his party got close to a majority despite having no symbol and massive suppression by the state. He is quite popular and the army has made him into a martyr. The economic blame all fell on the caretaker and new government. who in Pakistan blames IK for the economic mess, even though his policies were a major contributing factor

 

[Hikaru]

Army chief announcing Hasina's resignation does send a broader message. Doesn't matter who forms the govt, this might be the rise of Bangladeshi army as the singlemost powerful institution in the country.

Hasina's fate does remind me of Imran's, only difference being one decided to flee while other prefered jailtine over flee-deal.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

The opposition should form a unity government and hold elections again. That's the best way out of this mess. If students dont stand down things could get messy because they have no clear demands to be met now. Hasina resigned and the job quota has been scrapped.

Awami League will be banned and other political parties will take over.

@sweep_shot @Dhakar Pola :What will happen to Shakib ul Hasan ? He is an Awami League MP right?

 

[AMSS]

Apparently this quota was scrapped by Hasina government in 2018. The High Court reinstated it. Why did the crowd protest against the Hasina govt then?

 

[oatmeal]

Awami League will be banned and other political parties will take over.

@sweep_shot @Dhakar Pola :What will happen to Shakib ul Hasan ? He is an Awami League MP right?

Dont think the party should be banned from taking part in the next elections. But they shouldnt be part of any interim government.

Problem is it was basically a one party state because opposition boycotted last elections. How will an interim government even run , is there a provision in the constitution which allows it @sweep_shot

 

[oatmeal]

Apparently this quota was scrapped by Hasina government in 2018. The High Court reinstated it. Why did the crowd protest against the Hasina govt then?

If i understand correctly, this was cancelled by an ordinance and not a law passed by the parliament. Even after the Court rejected the ordinance, Sheikh Hasina didnt show any urgency in passing a law to revoke it again. Because it was quite useful for her politically. And this angered the students

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pray for Bangladeshi Hindus.

Their life is in danger as Bangladesh gets taken over by Islamists. This is a really tense situation.

 

[AMSS]

The rush of ''revolution'' will wear off. Reality will set in soon. You are still an ecologically fragile, overpopulated, dirt poor country dependent on EU's GSP+ status for your so-called textile export success. Now you'll be all of the above but with the added uncertainty and more religiosity and extremism in public life.

It's possible the revolutionaries will regret at leisure.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Pray for Bangladeshi Hindus.

Their life is in danger as Bangladesh gets taken over by Islamists. This is a really tense situation.

How does this become a Hindu-Muslim issue here??

 

[Ahmed216]

Pray for Bangladeshi Hindus.

Their life is in danger as Bangladesh gets taken over by Islamists. This is a really tense situation.

Is there a history of BD muslims killing Hindus?

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

Is there a history of BD muslims killing Hindus?

yup, That does exist in the past and the rapid decline of Hindu minority population in Bangladesh is rapid for being treated like a normal pattern. From 13.5% in 1971 to just 7.9% (that's more than 40% decline in population share).

Razakars (Pakistan) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Ahmed216]

yup, That does exist in the past and the rapid decline of Hindu minority population in Bangladesh is rapid for being treated like a normal pattern. From 13.5% in 1971 to just 7.9% (that's more than 40% decline in population share).

Razakars (Pakistan) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

You mean this decline in population share is due to genocide ?This could also be due to baby producing muslim (another reason to fear the Islamists)

 

[The Bald Eagle]

How does this become a Hindu-Muslim issue here??

People just love sensationalism. Hindus are not under threat there.

 

[RexRex]

Anyone have a good article that explains the events in Bangladesh and why people want Hasina out ?

 

[Ahmed216]

Anyone have a good article that explains the events in Bangladesh and why people want Hasina out ?

I think people over there realised Hasina is a BJP stooge

 

[Local.Dada]

I am so proud of Modi and Amit Shah. No politicians or regime has been demonized,. Money spent to unsettle with all the protests etc. These guys keep bulldozing through. From 2002 to now, the way these guys have survived every attack has to be given crazy appreciation and admiration no matter what political spectrum you are on.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

I think people over there realised Hasina is a BJP stooge

Let's just plug in BJP and Modi anywhere we can!!

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

I am so proud of Modi and Amit Shah. No politicians or regime has been demonized,. Money spent to unsettle with all the protests etc. These guys keep bulldozing through. From 2002 to now, the way these guys have survived every attack has to be given crazy appreciation and admiration no matter what political spectrum you are on.

BJP will find it much harder in 2029 than it was in 2024. Modi will be retired and I don't see anyone from RSS pipeline taking over!

 

[Local.Dada]

I think people over there realised Hasina is a BJP stooge

Yeah, that’s the only reason for violent protests. Imran wasn’t a BJP or a RSS stooge was he? Why was he removed? Neither is the current guy in his place is a BjP fan.

 

[Ahmed216]

I am so proud of Modi and Amit Shah. No politicians or regime has been demonized,. Money spent to unsettle with all the protests etc. These guys keep bulldozing through. From 2002 to now, the way these guys have survived every attack has to be given crazy appreciation and admiration no matter what political spectrum you are on.

Yes these uneducated politicians are very good riot organisers. Their success story started with 2002 Gujarat riots