Dhaka: Rebuilding & Democracy- August 5, 2024: Amid mounting pressure and unrest, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India, her home stormed, destroyed, and looted. This resignation marked a historic moment and a potential turning point for the nation.
“What they are trying to do now, all of the political parties and those who are on the street – the demonstrators who are primarily led by the students – they are having negotiation, conversations among themselves to have an interim government”
Analysis: Dhaka – Rebuilding & Democracy Independence
Restoring balance in Bangladesh requires addressing the root issues of corruption, limited political freedom, and human rights abuses.
Professor Ali Riaz, a leading expert in Asian Politics, has released a timely book, Pathways of Autocratization: The Tumultuous Journey of Bangladeshi Politics. This book tackles a pressing question: how does a democracy slide into autocracy? The relevance of this topic is now evident, six months after the book’s release.
Part of the 45-book Routledge Studies in South Asian Politics series, this significant work breaks down how democratic institutions can weaken and turn into autocratic regimes. Focusing on Bangladesh, the world’s eighth most populous country, it examines political changes since 2009.
Riaz connects Bangladesh’s experience with similar trends in Bolivia, Cambodia, Hungary, Poland, the Philippines, and Turkey. Although written before recent historic events, the book offers a clear framework for understanding global patterns and makes complex political concepts accessible to everyone.
In the video that follows Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz offers perspective on the events that began in July and culminated with the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina.
“It clearly showed that arrogance and autocracy do not stand when people rise up. This is a historic moment for Bangladesh, a turning point. I cannot overstate the significance of this moment.”
Bangladesh Independence: A New Chapter
Currently, Bangladesh is on a critical path following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The military has imposed an indefinite curfew and taken control, promising to establish an interim government. This transitional body aims to oversee a shift towards democratic governance, a process marked as a potential turning point in the nation’s history.
The interim government’s responsibilities are crucial. They need to ensure a fair and transparent election process, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard citizens’ rights. The goal is to establish a government that genuinely reflects the people’s will, with restored accountability and respect for democratic principles.
Leading Meaningful Change Dr Muhammad Yunus
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, also known for his work in microfinance and poverty alleviation. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner renowned for his work in microfinance and poverty alleviation, has been appointed to lead Bangladesh’s interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. His vision emphasizes a fair and transparent electoral process, the rule of law, and the protection of citizens’ rights. Yunus aims to establish a government that truly reflects the people’s will and ensures accountability.
“The poor themselves can create a poverty-free world. All we have to do is to free them from the chains that we have put around them.”
~Dr Muhammad Yunus on Eliminating Poverty
His appointment is crucial as Bangladesh transitions from a period marked by corruption and authoritarian rule. Yunus is trusted, especially among the student protesters, who see him as a leader capable of guiding the country toward a more democratic and just society. His immediate task involves setting up an administration to oversee this transition, ensuring that all political parties and stakeholders participate in the process. Yunus’s leadership symbolizes a new hope for prioritizing democracy and justice in Bangladesh.
The Student’s Initial Demand for Discussions:
The students of Dhaka, Bangladesh, initially demanded the abolition of the reinstated quota system for government jobs. The Student’s Initial Demand for Discussions:
- Abolish Quota System: The students in Dhaka demanded the removal of the reinstated quota system for government jobs.
- Why is the Quota System Unfair: The system reserved a large portion of civil service jobs for specific groups like descendants of freedom fighters and certain minorities, which the students argued was discriminatory.
- Call for Merit-Based System: They wanted a merit-based approach to ensure that job appointments were fair and based on qualifications.
- Expansion of Demands: As the protests grew, the students also called for broader government accountability and reform.
- Focus on Fairness: They demanded an end to corruption, human rights abuses, and authoritarianism, emphasizing the need for a democratic solution that reflects the people’s will and ensures fairness (DW) (Democracy Now!).
Bangladesh, and PM Response was not democracy but brutality:
- No Willingness to Engage: The government ignored the students’ demands for discussions about the unfair quota system, dismissing their concerns.
- Inflammatory Language: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina worsened the situation by calling protesters “razakars,” equating them with traitors, which angered the public.
- Heavy-Handed Measures: The government imposed curfews, cut internet access, and deployed police and military forces, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition.
- Brutal Crackdown: A shoot-on-sight order was issued, resulting in over 300 deaths and numerous injuries. The response included arbitrary arrests and intimidation of student leaders.
- Lack of Appropriate Response: Instead of addressing the legitimate grievances, the government resorted to repression, highlighting its intolerance of dissent and disregard for democratic norms
Rebuilding out of Protest, Out of Poverty
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, one of the most influential leaders of our time, he personally inspires me to use my skills to connect with others and make a difference. He does not stand alone in his vision for Free Bangladesh Rising!
His vision for a better Bangladesh, and a better world, revolves around empowering communities, promoting inclusive development, and advocating for human rights and democracy. Yunus emphasizes a long-term approach, believing true progress requires a free and fair environment.
His focus is economic growth; with creating a fair society where everyone has the chance to succeed. Yunus blends social business with a social justice commitment & hope for a brighter future. The time for anger is done. Stop the aggression, the looting, the death and destruction. Put full energy on positive focus, creating opportunity, and rising up from oppression. I applaud and stand with those who imagine, engage, and work on building a better tomorrow.
Other Resources:
- A World of Three Zeros: Economics of 0 Poverty, 0 Unemployment, & 0 Net Carbon Emissions
- Bangladesh: A Political History since Independence – Ali Riaz
- Bangladesh capability for Change (WEForum)
- Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty
- Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs
- Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism
- Critical Perspectives on Bangladesh | American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (aibs.net)
- Dr. Muhammad Yunus & Innovation (Dawn C Simmons)
- Grameen Foundation
- How Autocrats Rise: Sequences of Democratic Backsliding– Ali Riaz & Md Sohel Rana
- More Than Meets The Eye– Essays on Bangladesh Politics- Ali Riaz
- Nobel Prize Laureate Stories
- Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business & the Future of Capitalism: Muhammad Yunus
- Who is Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s new transitional leader? – The Washington Post