Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, is set to meet student protest leaders as the country faces political uncertainty. This follows Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure after a violent uprising. Dhaka’s usually bustling streets are quieter, and schools have reopened with low attendance after closing in mid-July due to escalating protests against quotas in government jobs. The violence has resulted in around 300 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Economic Impact and Interim Government
Garment factories, which are vital to Bangladesh’s economy and supply major global brands, will remain closed on Tuesday. The main garment manufacturers’ association will announce reopening plans later. Student leaders, who initiated the anti-quota movement that led to calls for Hasina’s resignation, have nominated Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser to the interim government.
Nahid Islam, a key student movement organiser, emphasised their demand for Yunus to lead the interim government, rejecting any army-supported administration. Islam also mentioned that Yunus had agreed to take on the responsibility, following discussions.
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus’ Role
Yunus, aged 84, and his Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for their work in alleviating poverty through microloans. However, Yunus faced embezzlement charges in June, which he denied. Currently in Paris, Yunus referred to Monday as Bangladesh’s “second liberation day” since its 1971 independence from Pakistan. However, he expressed disappointment with India for allowing Hasina to flee there.
International Reactions and Further Developments
Hasina arrived at a military airfield near Delhi on Monday, and India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met her. Details of her stay and future plans remain undisclosed. India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar briefed parliament on the Bangladesh crisis in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
General Zaman’s meeting with protest organisers is scheduled for 12 noon local time (0600 GMT) on Tuesday. He announced Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government in a televised address. Jubilant crowds looted Hasina’s residence after her departure, highlighting the unrest’s intensity.
Calls for Restraint and Future Elections
Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chief of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urged calm and restraint during this transitional period. He stressed the importance of following due process and avoiding lawlessness. General Zaman has been in discussions with major political parties, excluding Hasina’s Awami League, to chart a path forward. Talks with President Mohammed Shahabuddin are also planned.
President Shahabuddin announced that the interim government would hold elections as soon as possible after consulting all parties and stakeholders. He also mentioned the unanimous decision to release BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who was jailed on graft charges in 2018 but moved to a hospital a year later due to deteriorating health. Zia, 78, has denied the charges.
Hasina, who had ruled since 2009, is reportedly in a “safe house” after arriving at Hindon and is expected to travel to the United Kingdom.
With Inputs from Reuters
