Thousands rally in Bangladesh seeking ban on former PM's party
DHAKA: Thousands of people rallied on Friday outside the residence of Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, demanding he ban the political party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus, 84, has led an interim government since Hasina was overthrown by student-led mass protests in August 2024 and fled into exile as crowds stormed her palace.
Friday's rally came after the sudden departure of Abdul Hamid, a former leader of Hasina's Awami League party, from Bangladesh early Thursday.
A crowd, mainly made up of young people, had started gathering outside Yunus' residence on Thursday night.
Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organiser of the newly formed National Citizen's Party, said the demonstration would continue until their demands were met.
"Sheikh Hasina robbed the people of Bangladesh of their democratic rights. She manipulated the system to prevent any real opposition from participating in the election," Kamrul said.
'We saw Abdul Hamid leave the country safely. The actions of certain advisers are highly suspicious. The delay in justice appears to be part of a broader plan to bring back the fallen dictator and her party,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Sheikh Hasina's Party Slams 'Fascist' Yunus After Poll Announcement: 'Serves Foreign Interests'
Last Updated: Sheikh Hasina's banned Awami League accused Muhammad Yunus of spreading lies to cover up his failures and accused his government of serving foreign interests. Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League criticised Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of spreading lies and misinformation during his address to the nation, where he announced that Bangladesh's general elections will be held in April 2026. After immense pressure from the Army and political parties, Yunus said the next national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. He assured that his government is taking necessary steps to ensure a proper election environment, emphasising that flawed elections have been the main cause of major national crises in Bangladesh. 'We want an election that honours the sacrifices of the martyrs. One with the highest number of voters, candidates, and parties participating. Let this be remembered as the freest and fairest election the nation has seen," he said. The Awami League strongly condemned his address, saying Yunus was trying to cover up his failures by blaming the previous Awami League government and creating a false narrative of crisis. 'No Public Mandate, Economy In Ruins' Hasina's party, which was banned from contesting the elections after the former PM was ousted in student-led protests last year, said Bangladesh's economy has deteriorated under Yunus's interim regime, with industries being shut down, investment stalled and unemployment rising. It accused the interim government of rampant corruption and tax favouritism, including a tax waiver of Tk 666 crore for Yunus himself and tax exemption for Grameen Bank. 'In the name of development, they will hand over important national assets and infrastructure to serve foreign interests," it said. Furthermore, the Awami League claimed Yunus' government lacked democratic legitimacy and served foreign interests rather than those of the people of Bangladesh. It warned that several interim government members had foreign passports and would leave the country after causing irreversible damage. 'To protect our future, we must act now. There is no alternative to a united struggle by all patriots to save our country from the clutches of these vultures. If we can all stay united and continue this fight, we will, Inshallah, be able to defeat this evil, anti-national force," it said. What Did Yunus Say In His Speech? Yunus highlighted the immense public and political interest in Bangladesh's next national election, emphasising the government's role in institutional reform to prevent future crises. 'Hold your candidates and political parties accountable, demand firm pledges that the agreed-upon reforms will be passed in the very first session of the new parliament, without compromise. Demand that they never bargain away the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national dignity to any foreign power," he was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. 'Ask them to lead with honesty and transparency, and to reject all forms of corruption, favoritism, extortion, syndicates, and violence," he added, promising to build a 'New Bangladesh'. First Published: June 07, 2025, 07:07 IST
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Sheikh Hasina's Party Slams 'Fascist' Yunus After Poll Announcement: 'Serve Foreign Interests'
Last Updated: Sheikh Hasina's banned Awami League accused Muhammad Yunus of spreading lies to cover up his failures and accused his government of serving foreign interests. Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League criticised Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of spreading lies and misinformation during his address to the nation, where he announced that Bangladesh's general elections will be held in April 2026. After immense pressure from the Army and political parties, Yunus said the next national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. He assured that his government is taking necessary steps to ensure a proper election environment, emphasising that flawed elections have been the main cause of major national crises in Bangladesh. 'We want an election that honours the sacrifices of the martyrs. One with the highest number of voters, candidates, and parties participating. Let this be remembered as the freest and fairest election the nation has seen," he said. The Awami League strongly condemned his address, saying Yunus was trying to cover up his failures by blaming the previous Awami League government and creating a false narrative of crisis. 'No Public Mandate, Economy In Ruins' Hasina's party, which was banned from contesting the elections after the former PM was ousted in student-led protests last year, said Bangladesh's economy has deteriorated under Yunus's interim regime, with industries being shut down, investment stalled and unemployment rising. It accused the interim government of rampant corruption and tax favouritism, including a tax waiver of Tk 666 crore for Yunus himself and tax exemption for Grameen Bank. 'In the name of development, they will hand over important national assets and infrastructure to serve foreign interests," it said. Furthermore, the Awami League claimed Yunus' government lacked democratic legitimacy and served foreign interests rather than those of the people of Bangladesh. It warned that several interim government members had foreign passports and would leave the country after causing irreversible damage. 'To protect our future, we must act now. There is no alternative to a united struggle by all patriots to save our country from the clutches of these vultures. If we can all stay united and continue this fight, we will, Inshallah, be able to defeat this evil, anti-national force," it said. What Did Yunus Say In His Speech? Yunus highlighted the immense public and political interest in Bangladesh's next national election, emphasising the government's role in institutional reform to prevent future crises. 'Hold your candidates and political parties accountable, demand firm pledges that the agreed-upon reforms will be passed in the very first session of the new parliament, without compromise. Demand that they never bargain away the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national dignity to any foreign power," he was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. 'Ask them to lead with honesty and transparency, and to reject all forms of corruption, favoritism, extortion, syndicates, and violence," he added, promising to build a 'New Bangladesh'. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bangladesh Muhammad Yunus Sheikh Hasina First Published:
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Yunus's April 2026 Bangladesh Election Call Signals High-Stakes Balancing Act: Sources
Last Updated: Top intelligence sources indicated that Muhammad Yunus's declaration of dates shows he is under intense internal pressure Muhammad Yunus's announcement of Bangladesh elections for April 2026 represents a high-stakes balancing act amid intense political, military, and social pressures, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18. Yunus framed this as fulfilling the interim government's three mandates: reform, justice—which involves trials for crimes against Sheikh Hasina—and elections. Yunus is facing election demands from powerful sections such as the BNP and other opposition parties. April 2026 allows visible progress in trying Hasina and Awami League leaders for 'crimes against humanity" during a 2024 crackdown, legitimising the interim government's justice mandate. December is preferred for elections, as April clashes with exams and complicates logistics, with Awami League sources suggesting this timing is a deliberate tactic to suppress turnout. Awami League sources also claimed that this delay is intended to consolidate the influence of the National Citizen Party and Jamaat-e-Islami and avoid a Bangladesh Nationalist Party-dominated poll. The lack of a detailed roadmap, said sources, indicates doubts about his control, suggesting Bangladesh's crisis of legitimacy will persist. advetisement Top intelligence sources indicated that Yunus's declaration of dates shows he is under intense internal pressure. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), backed by 50 smaller parties, demands elections by December 2025, arguing that Yunus's unelected government lacks legitimacy. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman publicly insists on December 2025 polls, warning that prolonged army deployment for civil duties since the 2024 protests risks national security. He also opposes major policy decisions like the Rohingya corridor by Yunus's unelected government. Rival protests between the BNP and student groups, along with mob justice, have escalated. Yunus aims to reduce Awami League influence, reform electoral laws, and reconstitute the Election Commission—tasks he deems impossible before 2026. The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), his key ally, supports this delay. Yunus has not laid down a detailed roadmap, potentially as a superficial measure to appease those demanding daily elections, said sources. About the Author Manoj Gupta First Published: June 07, 2025, 06:00 IST
