[🇧🇩] Bangladeshi PM Hasina Flees country amid deadly riots

[Saif]

'Hasina likely to stay in India until UK grants asylum'

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to stay in India until the UK grants her asylum, reports Republic TV

www.thedailystar.net

'Hasina likely to stay in India until UK grants asylum'

File photo: Reuters

Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to stay in India until the UK grants her asylum, reports Republic TV.

It said that India is likely to provide Hasina all logistical support, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting the TV channel.

Meanwhile, Indian Air Force and other Indian security agencies are providing security to Hasina who is being moved to a safe location, ANI said quoting unnamed sources.

Hasina is likely to meet her daughter Saima Wazed, who is based in New Delhi and working as the World Health Organisation's regional director for South-East Asia.

Security at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi's diplomatic zone Chanakyapuri has been beefed up with the installation of additional barricades and deployment of more police forces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight presided over a high-level meeting of the cabinet committee on security affairs.

However, there was no official word on what transpired at the meeting which ended around 8:30pm IST.​

 

[Saif]

AL stares at a ‘political death’

Trumpeted as a champion of democracy over the last 15 years by her party colleagues and followers, Sheikh Hasina, 77, has become a pariah overnight.

www.thedailystar.net

AL stares at a 'political death'
Some leaders now say they're victims of Hasina's whim

Trumpeted as a champion of democracy over the last 15 years by her party colleagues and followers, Sheikh Hasina, 77, has become a pariah overnight.

The five-time prime minister, who is also Awami League president since 1981, is now trying to secure refuge in the UK after fleeing to India on Monday in the face of an unprecedented anti-government movement in Bangladesh's history.

Party insiders say Hasina's "undignified exit" was unbecoming of her, and a damning indictment of the bankruptcy of a party that led the Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971.

This self-seeking decision, they point out, to leave everyone to fend for themselves not only reflected badly on her, but also set back Awami League for years, if not decades, before it can recover from this situation where it faces "political death".

Hasina's fleeing the country essentially sealed the fate of Awami League, which led all most all democratic movements before and after the birth of Bangladesh, they add.

The Daily Star yesterday randomly tried to speak to top party leaders by phone, but their phones were found switched off in most cases. A several others did not pick up the call. Only two leaders agreed to talk off the record.

They said Hasina's last moment's decision to leave the country placed them in terrific situation and that they did not get enough time to secure their own safety.

"We are victims of her whim," said a central committee member.

Another leader alleged Hasina never listened to party leaders and made decisions on her own, isolating herself from the party colleagues.

"In the January 7 election, many Awami League activists did not vote for the party-nominated candidates. And during the recent protest, she failed to inspire party men to come to the streets," he said over the phone so sheepishly that it was difficult to hear.

Asked about the future of the party, he replied, "I first need to save my life. The thought of the future of the party can wait," he said, sounding frustrated.

Both leaders said Hasina's last efforts to bring partymen on the Streets to resist protesters that killed around 100 people across the country on Sunday to survive was a wrong decision. By making this decision, she set Awami League against the countrymen.

Hasina created a circle around her with some opportunists who "used" the party and the government for their personal benefits. Their advice has destroyed her own political career, a historical party like Awami League and tens of millions of party leaders and activists.

Whereabouts of the top party leaders and ministers of the immediate past cabinet are also not clear, as many have gone into hiding to save their lives amid violent attacks on ruling party men in different parts of the country.

Some of them, including Junaid Ahmad Palak and Hasan Mahmud, were reportedly caught at the airport while trying to flee the country yesterday. Several others were also beaten up.

According to the officials at the Dhaka airport, the civil aviation authority also detained general secretary of Bangladesh Chattra League's Dhaka University unit Tanbir Hasan Shaikat and the student body's Dhaka North unit president Riaz Mahmud. The detainees were handed over to the Bangladesh Army, according to officials.

Besides, the family members of two former ministers -- education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives minister Md Tazul Islam left the country through the airport.

Former finance minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, sports minister Nazmul Hassan Papon and Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also left the country through the airport since Sunday, sources said.

Former MP of Munshiganj-3 Mrinal Kanti Das also left the country.

Bangla daily Prothom Alo yesterday reported that Hasina was in favour of using greater force till the last moment, even as security personnel and top police officials declined to continue the bloodshed.

By Monday noon, tens of millions of people were marching towards the capital and Gono Bhaban with their one-point demand for her to leave office.

According to the Bangla daily, on Monday morning Hasina pushed top leaders of different law enforcement agencies and armed forces to take harsher actions against the protesters. She also refused to accept the briefing by the security personnel that the situation was completely out control.

Some of the party leaders and her advisers who were present at that time requested her to resign and hand over power to the armed forces, but Hasina did not pay any heed and asked them to strengthen the curfew instead, according to the report.

Hasina also expressed resentment at the top bosses of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for their failure to tackle the situation and contain the protesters. Later, after consulting with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, who was at Gono Bhaban with her, and her son Sajeeb Wazed, who is in the US, Hasina decided to step down.

According to Prothom Alo, Hasina at the last moment wanted to record a speech addressing the nation, but she was not given the time as there was intel that protesters would occupy Gono Bhaban in 45 minutes.

Hasina was given 45 minutes to pack up. She and her sister then left Gono Bhaban for Bangabhaban where she tendered her resignation to the president. Hasina took off in a military aircraft around 2:30pm and landed in India around 5:36pm.

'VERY SHORT NOTICE'

Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar told an all-party meeting yesterday that Sheikh Hasina requested permission "at very short notice" to come to India following her forced resignation.

He also said Hasina, was in shock at the turn of events, reports Indian news portal NDTV.

He said the Indian government will give Hasina time to decide her next step.

There was discussion that Hasina may fly to the UK from India.

However, British immigration rules do not allow individuals to travel to that country to seek asylum or temporary refuge, the UK Home Office told NDTV yesterday, amid speculation that Hasina will seek asylum in that country.

The UK government also said individuals seeking asylum must do so "in the first safe country they reach".

"The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it. However, there is no provision for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge," a UK Home Office spokesperson stated.

Also, amid growing queries on visa status of Hasina and others, the US said visa records are confidential under the US law, reports UNB.

"Visa records are confidential under US law; therefore, we do not discuss the details of individual visa cases," a spokesperson at the US Embassy in Dhaka told reporters yesterday.​

 

[Saif]

যাওয়ার আগে আরও র* ক্ত/পা ত চেয়েছিলেন শেখ হাসিনা

 

[Saif]

'We shoot one dead ... but the rest don't budge'

Chilling video surfaces of police talking to ex-home minister about subduing the protesters

www.thedailystar.net

'We shoot one dead ... but the rest don't budge'
Chilling video surfaces of police talking to ex-home minister about subduing the protesters

"We had to shoot them dead one by one, sir," a senior police officer by the name of Iqbal (according to the name plate on his chest) tells Asaduzzaman Khan, the former home minister, about their ordeal in dealing with the protesters.

One of the many video clips making the rounds on social media and messaging platforms shows a group of men standing in a huddle under the open sky watching a video clip while Iqbal voices his exasperation at not being able to subdue, presumably, the protesters.

While there is no obvious reference to the protests that rocked Bangladesh in late July and early August, one can only presume that the video Asaduzzaman was being shown was of a dead protester, considering Iqbal's remarks.

The 43-second video clip appears to have been recorded by someone holding a cell phone over the shoulders of Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun since his epaulette bearing the IGP's insignia are clearly visible as is his profile for a brief second.

Iqbal speaks of his frustration and failure of not being able to scare away the protesters. "We shoot one dead, or we wound one, and that is the only one that falls. The rest don't budge, sir."

He continues, "And that is why we are so scared and worried," as the home minister watches with a jaded expression the video clip showing a protester lying dead. There is not a hint of regret, or the slightest sign of guilt, nor reproach on the home minister's face.

Iqbal goes on to brief Asaduzzaman, who has been in hiding since August 5, about the dead body on the phone screen and most likely how that person was killed. Subtitles claim that the DMP commissioner is also among Iqbal's audience.

There have been a number of disturbingly violent video clips making the rounds on social media and messaging platforms showing police brutality. But this clip, about three-quarters of a minute, is perhaps the most chilling.

The keepers of the law and a minister of the republic, who are supposed to protect citizens, speak about killing them as if it were a skeet shoot.​

 

[Saif]

Students vow to resist attempts of counter-revolution

They urged all to remain on the streets until their victory, what he described as an initial achievement for now, is solidified.

en.prothomalo.com

Students vow to resist attempts of counter-revolution
CorrespondentDhaka University
Published: 14 Aug 2024, 23: 19

Ashraful Alam

There have been reports that the Awami League and its allies may attempt a ‘counter-revolution' on 15 August. If anyone makes such an attempt, they will be crushed under the wave of masses.

Coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), which led the recent mass-uprising and toppled the Sheikh Hasina government, conveyed the warnings from a harmony rally at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Apart from them, leaders and activists of different student organisations, including Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, attended the rally, under the banner, ‘Unity for Bangladesh’.

Sarjis Alam, a key coordinator of SAD, told the rally, “The fascists are trying to stage a counter-coup in Bangladesh. What can be more ridiculous than this! If there are any such attempts, you will not find anyone to attend your absentee funeral prayer (Gayebana Janaza). If you dare to stare at the uprising of students and masses, a crowd of millions will crush you.”

He said Bangladesh achieved independence after 16 years. If anyone stares at this, they will not be allowed in this country.

Sarjis also urged all to remain standby, to take to the streets until the power is handed over to an elected government.

Another SAD coordinator, Hasnat Abdullah, said all should be cautious so that those who have carried out assaults throughout the last 16 years cannot succeed in any conspiracies. There are reports that the fascists and their allies will attempt to take to the streets to stage a coup. If they try to do so, the students will respond forcefully.

He urged all to remain on the streets until their victory, what he described as an initial achievement for now, is solidified.

Addressing the rally, Abu Baker Majumder, another key coordinator, said, “Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave power due to the movement of students and people, but her allies continue to conspire. Following the successful revolution, allies of Awami League carried out assaults on our brothers from minority groups. We will not let them succeed.”

All left-leaning student organisations, including Chhatra Union and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, actively participated in the previous programmes of the anti-discrimination student movement. They, however, were conspicuously absent in the rally on Wednesday.

Leaders from Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir spoke on the occasion.

Ganesh Chandra Roy, president of Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka University unit, vowed to resist any conspiracies collectively. He accused Sheikh Hasina and her supporters of trying to instigate communal unrest. "We are all Bangladeshis, and we will stand together to prevent any conspiracy.”

Sibgatullah, central literature secretary of Chhatra Shibir, called for unity among all religious communities in Bangladesh and expressed a firm stance to combat any attempts to destablise the situation.

Akhtar Hossain, central convener of the Ganatantrik Chhatra Shakti, said those defeated by the uprising are now conspiring to destabilise the country. "We will resist all conspiracies and remain committed to our goal of a harmonious Bangladesh."​

 

[Saif]

Column by Mahfuz Anam: Mindless killing changed everything

Blinded by unquestioned power, the government is refusing to accept the new reality.

www.thedailystar.net

Column by Mahfuz Anam: Mindless killing changed everything
Blinded by unquestioned power, the government is refusing to accept the new reality

It must be investigated as to what led to such a large-scale killing in the hands of law enforcers. PHOTO: PALASH KHAN

The prime minister and several ministers keep on asking: since the quota reform has already been implemented, why are the students still demonstrating? The repetition of this question only proves how blind to facts and disconnected with the people the government and Awami League leaders are. They are denying or seem to be oblivious to the fact that over 200 killed—the government itself admits to 150—and thousands injured by the indiscriminate firing by the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has totally changed the situation. In one eye hospital in Dhaka, during the violence, nearly 400 people who sustained eye injuries were treated, 300 of whom had to be admitted, and 250 had to undergo eye surgery. The majority of them had pellet (a particular type of ammunition used by police during the recent violence) wounds in one or both eyes. Imagine what the total figure could be like. We have no count yet of how many will have to amputate one or both arms or legs due to gunshots, and how many more will have to be operated upon. How many will really return to normal life? Everything points to mindless violence that cannot be termed as police action to quell unrest that emanates from usual demonstrations in our part of the world. The evidence is of a mindset of "shoot at sight," as announced by an AL leader.

Today's issue is seeking justice. Justice for the massacre of students and other citizens, the unleashing of a killing machine that the police and BGB turned out to be, the large-scale arrests, the "block raids," the house-to-house search, the false cases, and the insults of terming the demonstrators in general to be agents of destruction and anti-Bangladesh forces.

The all-encompassing issue that has alienated the students and enraged the people is the atmosphere of fear under which all students, youth, politically involved citizens, and people in general are having to live. (A father called this author and said, "I have a school-going son. I become tense with every sound of a car stopping near my house at night".)

The killings definitely stand as the most brutal retaliation by a government on any civic movement in the post-liberation Bangladesh history—and may be that of the subcontinent. We shudder at the thought of how a civilian government could allow its law enforcers to attack its own people with such brutality. The killing was not just an event, but one that took place over several days. Wasn't there any reflection, any afterthought and reassessment at the end of the first, second or third day that such heartless and continuous killing of one's own people must stop?

What brought the party that led us during the Liberation War to this? Over 15 years of unaccountable power, greed, cronyism, wealth accumulation, abuse of authority, and the attitude that they are above the law.

Of all the deaths, the most heart-rending is perhaps the story of Riya Gope, a six-year-old in Nayamati, Narayanganj, who was playing on the rooftop of their four-storey building. On July 19 afternoon, when police started firing on the demonstrators on the street near her house, her father Dipak Kumar Gope rushed to the roof to get her; he was carrying his daughter back to their flat when a bullet struck the child's head. She died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on July 25. How could a bullet hit someone on the roof of a four-storey building unless the police took an aim to do so? Was Riya a threat? The explanation will most likely be that it was an accident. But can that be acceptable when she was in her father's arms on the roof of a four-storey building?

Use of helicopters to fire sound grenades and tear gas shells is a new element we saw in crowd-handling by the law enforcers this time around. However, there are disturbing accounts from the public, reporters and especially photographers that rifle shots were fired from these helicopters upon demonstrating crowds. On July 18 and 19, around mid-morning, helicopters hovered over Mayor Hanif Flyover, Shanir Akhra, Kajla and Signboard areas, sometimes sweeping down as they flew and fired on the crowd gathered below. These helicopters were clearly marked with the insignia of our law enforcers.

The case of Sumaiya Akter in Narayanganj adds credibility to this claim. She was 20 years old and the mother of a healthy two-month-old daughter. Hearing the sound of the helicopter and that of the clashes going on outside, following her mother, Sumaiya ventured out to the veranda of her sixth floor apartment to see what was going on. She got hit by a live bullet and died soon after. Where could the bullet come from? Given the height and the location of the apartment, the most likely possibility is that the shot came from a helicopter, as claimed by her family. This gives substance to claims by many others that they saw gunshots coming from helicopters.

How can a protesting crowd be fired upon from the air by their own government? Firing from helicopters is known to occur only when operating in an "enemy" territory or a location captured by armed terrorists. How can our own BGB or Rab or police fire upon our own people in such a manner?

We demand a credible and thorough investigation on the use of helicopters and their firing on demonstrators. While the judicial investigation to probe all deaths should continue, a separate and fast-track probe must be conducted to reveal the truth on this specific matter.

It must also be investigated as to what led to such a large-scale killing in the hands of law enforcers. Who made the threat assessment, and how? At what stage were they allowed to open fire on demonstrators, and who gave the orders to shoot? The rifles used were all modern and sophisticated. BGB used weapons meant to protect our borders. How could they be allowed to tackle student demonstrators with the same weapons? The investigation should also consider whether or not excessive force and disproportionate firepower were used against the demonstrators, none of whom have so far been seen to carry firearms. They were all carrying sticks and iron rods.

It is our considered view that the government and the ruling party continue to live in their own bubble and underestimate the depth of the people's grievances that has resulted from the killings of students and the public. We also feel that peace will not return to the campuses and the streets until justice is done and convincingly seen to be done. Force can be used to "calm" the situation, but it will be temporary. The lengthier the period of uncertainty, the more grievous will be its impact on our economy and the country's international acceptability.

Those who are used to using power to get their way are usually not aware of its limits. We have used Ansar, police, Rab, BGB and even the army, and an extreme measure like curfew. What has been the result? Yes, brutality, death, arrests and harassment can be further ratcheted up. But all that will generate more resentment, deeper hatred, and critical desperation. Such use of force may, at best, show a superficial show of calm, but will never solve our real problem of "power corrupting and absolute power corrupting absolutely" (adopting Lord Acton's time-honoured observation).

We urge the government to no longer hide behind convenient narratives that stand totally contradicted by facts. We further urge them to examine the brutality with which the demonstrators have been treated and the death and injuries that ordinary students and the people have had to suffer, and respond to the call for justice. We also urge them to stop befooling themselves as facts are in people's hands due to modern technology. Yes, there could be a lot of false news and videos in the digital sphere. But there are many credible ones too. Wisdom should compel the government not to brush them aside, which it will do only at its own peril.

Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh’s iron lady Sheikh Hasina falls after 15yrs in power, flees to India

Bangladesh’s iron lady Sheikh Hasina falls after 15yrs in power, flees to India

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh’s iron lady Sheikh Hasina falls after 15yrs in power, flees to India
Ahammad Foyez 05 August, 2024, 17:56

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country, ending her 15-year rule amid an unprecedented student-led mass uprising against her authoritarian regime.

She left her Ganabhaban official residence by a military helicopter with her sister Sheikh Rehana before the army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, confirmed her resignation at a press conference in front of his Dhaka cantonment office.

Thousands of people stormed to the prime minister’s Ganabhaban residence in jubilation soon after she left and some climbed atop a statue of the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She reached India, where Hasina and her family were sheltered, Indian daily The Hindu reported hours after the ousted Bangladesh ruler fled the country.

Before confirming Hasina’s resignation, Waker-Uz-Zaman said that he had invited representatives of different political parties and discussed with them the formation of an interim government.

‘We had a nice discussion. I think this discussion would be fruitful. And we will run the country through forming an interim government,’ said Waker-Uz-Zaman, adding that they would go to president Md Shahabuddin Chuppu to discuss the formation of the new government.

Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed that representatives of all major parties, except the Awami League, were present at the meeting.

He assured all of arranging trials for all killings and injustices and said that he would take responsibility for saving people’s lives and properties.

‘Do not lose your hope. The many demands that you have we will fulfil that and will restore peace and discipline in the country,’ he said, urging all to refrain from vandalism, killing, and clashes.

At noon, Inter-Services Public Relations announced that the army chief would address the nation, asking protesters to keep their patience until then.

As street barriers were removed in Dhaka, thousands of protesters rushed to Shahbagh Square in anticipation of Hasnina’s fall.

Waker was supposed to address the nation at 2:00pm but later it was deferred to 3:00pm.

He finally skipped the address and instead held a press conference, which triggered wild jubilation among the protesters and opposition supporters.

Following the resignation of Hasina, who was labelled as a fascist and dictator by protestors, hundreds of thousands of people also entered the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The mob set fire to different entities, including AL offices, police stations, and media houses, following Hasina’s fall.

After forming a government in January 2009, Hasina, until Monday, ignored all local and international criticisms against her misrules, including serious violations of human rights, snatching of freedom of expression, enacting various draconian laws, massive corruption, destroying of all democratic institutions, and ruination of the electoral system.

She ignored all political demands for fair elections and was elected in the 2014 general election, with 153 lawmakers winning unopposed amid a boycott of all opposition parties.

Ballot boxes were filled up well before voting in the 2014 general election, and her latest parliament was formed in 2024 in a one-sided general election that was levelled as a dummy election.

At the latest, her government carried out a massive crackdown on students and other protestors when the Student Movement Against Discrimination, a platform of anti-quota protestors, demanded reform of the quota system in public service.

Around 350 people were killed in the July massacre against protesting students and ordinary people that started with the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the then-ruling Awami League of Sheikh Hasina, carrying out an attack on agitators on July 15.

The attack added fuel to the student protests, which turned into civil unrest due to the mass killings and mass arrests of agitators.

Students presented nine-point demands, including an unconditional public apology from Sheikh Hasina by accepting responsibility for the killing of more than 200 people in violent clashes between July 16 and July 21 and their aftermath.

Students also sought the removal of her home minister, law minister, road transport and bridges minister, and education minister, assurance of justice for the killing of students; freeing all arrested students; and withdrawal of false cases against them.

Without addressing the demands, the authority picked up and detained six key coordinators of the student movement unlawfully between four and six days at the detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The six coordinators—Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud, Nusrat Tabassum, and Abu Baker Mojumder—observed a 32-hour hunger strike at the DB office before they were freed amid growing local and international criticism.

Later, at a mass rally at the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday, they announced a one-point demand for Sheikh Haisna’s resignation, as their nine-point demands were not addressed.

People flood the Shahbagh crossing in the capital on Monday to celebrate the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister and her fleeing from the country. — Sony Ramany​

 

[Vikings]

@Bilal9 , bhai , I'm wondering where some of my recent posts gone? Is that same for you and others? As far I can remember I replied to your post about the interim government. But it's absent from my latest activities.

Also it looks the forum was down. Are those posts lost?