By 
26-08-2024
Benjamin Arenas Sanchez
South and East Asia Researcher,
Global Human RIghts Defence.
After 15 years in charge of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the aftermath of a student-led revolution. The unrest started after the Bangladeshi High Court decided to reinstate an old quota which reserved 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans that fought their war of independence in 1971. Students were unhappy about the decision, as graduate unemployment is elevated, government jobs are in high demand and they viewed the quota as favouritism for the supporters of the government’s political party. Although the decision was overturned in July and the quota reduced to 5 percent, it was too little too late.
The student protests started peacefully, however the tensions started rising after Hasina called the protestors “rajakaar”, which was a term used for pro-Pakistan sympathisers during the war of independence. The armed wing of the Awami League (the party formerly in charge of the Bangladeshi government), the Chhatra League, alongside the police, started attacking students with live bullets and tear gas. The violence against protesters led to exponential growth of the protests. As per the latest numbers released in a report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the United Nations, more than 600 people were killed during protests, including four journalists and 32 children, and many more have been injured. Sheikh Hasina and her government tried to counter those protests by shutting down Bangladesh’s internet, imposing a curfew, and jailed over 11,000 protesters. The imprisoned protestors were not presented in court within 24 hours, nor were they given access to legal representation. The army ended up withdrawing their support as Hasina ordered firing on civilians to enforce the curfew.
The OHCHR has issued concerns over human rights infringements due to the protests. The treatment of protesters by law enforcement was qualified as unnecessary and disproportionate, and a breach of Bangladesh’s obligation to respect the citizens’ right to life and their bodily integrity as indicated by multiple international human rights standards. Reports of torture and ill-treatment of jailed protestors while in police custody, suggest a breach of Bangladesh’s obligation to uphold the Convention Against Torture. There have also been concerns over a restriction on the freedom of expression and freedom of movement due to the internet shutdown and the curfew. Both are a breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Bangladesh has acceded to and ratified.
The country now waits for elections under the lead of the interim government, with the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor. Bangladesh finds itself in a volatile situation, full of civil unrest, disinformation, and economic turmoil. The interim government has a duty towards the citizens to navigate the difficult times with integrity and in their best interests.
Sources and further reading:
[1] ‘Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh’ (OHCHR, 16 August 2024) <https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/preliminary-analysis-recent-protests-and-unrest-bangladesh> accessed 26 August 2024.
[2] Roy-Chaudhury R and Solanki V, ‘Bangladesh: Domestic Turmoil and Regional Insecurity’ (International Institute for Strategic Studies, 20 August 2024) <https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/08/bangladesh-domestic-turmoil-and-regional-insecurity/> accessed 26 August 2024.
[3] Sajjad T, ‘Bangladesh’s Protests Explained: What Led to PM’s Ouster and the Challenges That Lie Ahead’ (The Conversation, 6 August 2024) <https://theconversation.com/bangladeshs-protests-explained-what-led-to-pms-ouster-and-the-challenges-that-lie-ahead-236190> accessed 26 August 2024.
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