DHAKA, Bangladesh — Six months after the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the newly formed government in Bangladesh is facing significant challenges, including a struggling economy and ongoing issues related to human rights violations. After she fled to India in August following a student-led revolt that ended her 15-year rule, an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus assumed control with military backing.
In reaction to the political unrest, Hasina’s Awami League party has announced intentions to stage protests, including a general strike in February. This has provoked outrage among student activists and opponents of Hasina, culminating in their takeover and destruction of her father’s historic residence in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s home.
As Hasina continues to remain in exile, she is expected to communicate with her supporters on Thursday. Her administration has been criticized for widespread corruption and serious human rights violations during her tenure, which adds complexity to her potential return.
Will Sheikh Hasina make a return?
Hasina is facing criminal charges linked to the deaths of numerous protesters during the turmoil of last summer. From her place of exile, she has hinted that she plans to make a comeback, sharing messages through online platforms and recorded conversations. However, the current government is seeking her extradition from India, but New Delhi has yet to respond. Additionally, a tribunal dealing with allegations of crimes against humanity has asked Interpol to detain her.
Members of Hasina’s family, along with many party officials and former ministers, are staying outside Bangladesh, while others are either jailed or in hiding. Meanwhile, the interim government has detained thousands of her supporters and has imposed restrictions on the Bangladesh Chhatra League, her party’s student wing. A recent report from Human Rights Watch indicated that there has been a “disturbing pattern of security force abuses” targeting Hasina’s supporters and journalists in particular.
Uncertainty regarding reforms promised by the Yunus administration
The interim government has established six commissions focused on reforming critical areas like the electoral process and the rule of law. They are expected to release the findings of these reports to the public shortly. However, major political entities, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, are demanding initial reforms first, followed by immediate elections. The BNP insists that lasting reforms should occur under an elected government.
Concerns about human rights
Human Rights Watch has called on the interim administration to adopt proper legal procedures for detention and to revoke laws that have been used against dissent. Despite scrapping the problematic Cyber Security Act that restricted free speech, the new government has introduced an ordinance that retains many of its adverse elements, according to HRW. Media outlets and rights organizations have accused the Yunus-led government of systematically controlling independent journalism, although authorities maintain that there has been no intimidation against the press. Furthermore, two media advocacy groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, are advocating for fair legal processes and the safeguarding of journalists’ rights.
Additionally, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has raised complaints against the government for not adequately protecting religious and ethnic minorities from violence and harassment. The government counters these claims, suggesting that most violence stems from political disputes rather than communal tensions.
The rise of Islamist groups
In the wake of Hasina’s ouster, hardline Islamist organizations have become more prominent. Political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah has noted that extremist groups could exploit the current instability. As of December, approximately 700 inmates remained at large following major jailbreaks during the student-led protests, including at least 70 individuals with extreme ideological affiliations or death row sentences, according to a senior prison official.
When is the next election?
The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is pressing the government to organize elections this year, threatening public protests if their demands are not met. Meanwhile, the student group instrumental in the protests against Hasina, along with the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, has stated their preference for allowing the government time to carry out essential reforms prior to any elections. Yunus has committed to holding elections either in December or by mid-next year.
