In Bangladesh, on the anniversary of the death of the country’s independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, student protesters and political activists clashed with supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The incident took place at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka, which was previously the residence of Rahman and has now been turned into a museum to honor his legacy.
After Hasina’s removal from power following an uprising that led to over 300 deaths, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus canceled the national mourning day previously observed on Aug. 15, the date of Rahman’s assassination. Hasina, who is now in self-exile in India, called on her supporters to pay their respects to Rahman on the anniversary of his death.
During the commemoration at the museum, student protesters prevented Hasina’s supporters from entering the site, leading to altercations and harassment of visitors and journalists. The protesters aimed to stop any gatherings that they believed could incite chaos in the name of commemoration.
Videos of the protesters holding a party outside the museum and blocking its entrance went viral on social media, drawing criticism for their actions. Amid the chaos, journalists reported facing harassment and being forced to delete photos and videos taken at the scene.
The unrest in Bangladesh began with protests against a government job quota system, which later escalated into a broader movement against Hasina’s administration. The prolonged violence resulted in over 300 deaths and ultimately led to Hasina’s removal from power and her subsequent exile.
The interim government, now led by Muhammad Yunus, includes members from civil society and student protest leaders in its Cabinet. The country remains in a state of turmoil as various factions continue to demand accountability for the violence that occurred during the uprising against Hasina’s government.