In brief
In a continuation of turmoil in Bangladesh, clashes erupted between student protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leading to significant unrest and government intervention as violent protests broke out after Hasina's address from India.
Bangladesh is grappling with escalating violence as a student-led protest movement clashes with supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted from power in August. The unrest kicked off midweek after the Awami League, Hasina’s party, announced her upcoming audio address to the nation from India, where she has been since her removal. The student groups, fearing that her address would provoke further violence, initiated mass protests which included setting ablaze a museum that once served as the home of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a key figure in Bangladesh’s history.The strife has persisted for three days, leading to violent confrontations in which both sides engaged in physical altercations. In response, the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, launched “Operation Devil Hunt,” deploying police and paramilitary forces to restore order. The Awami League, meanwhile, has vowed to retaliate against the student protests and raised the possibility of protests and strikes of their own across the nation.Following Hasina’s speech, in which she highlighted her father’s legacy and her contributions to Bangladesh’s progress, violence erupted between opposing factions in Dhaka. Yunus emphasized the importance of rule of law as crucial to the nation’s recovery. Authorities report over 1,300 arrests, primarily involving Awami League members, and although calm has somewhat returned, tensions remain high. As the interim government considers a ban on Hasina's political party, leaders within the Awami League are attempting to regain influence, accusing student protesters of connections to past extremists.
