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News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
No Peace For Nobel Peace Winner: Army, BNP Tighten Screws On Yunus As Bangladesh Boils
Last Updated: Interim chief Yunus under siege as Islamist mobs target minorities, BNP demands his ouster and army signals disaffection over delayed polls. When students ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, forcing her to flee for New Delhi, the so-called student-led movement ushered in Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as interim government adviser to steer the country towards elections, which critics argue were not freely or fairly held under Hasina's regime. However, Yunus has struggled to contain the jihadist takeover of the student-led movement against the quota system in government jobs. The interim administration failed to stop attacks by Islamists on Bengali Hindus, Christians, adivasis, and hill tribes. Last week, Yunus even threatened to resign after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Awami League's arch-rival, demanded his removal over delays in elections. The 'banker to the poor' has also failed to stop attacks on Awami League members and oversaw the banning of the outfit, paving the way for the Khaleda Zia-led BNP to return to power. The BNP is close to Pakistan, a nation that once ruled Bangladesh with an iron fist and committed ethnic cleansing during the 1971 liberation. Yunus convened meetings with key political factions, including the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami – which also has ties to Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami proposed two potential timelines for national elections: mid-February 2026 if necessary reforms are completed, or immediately after Ramadan if delays persist . The party also emphasized the importance of maintaining the army's reputation, cautioning against any actions that might politicize the military. This week, the Bangladesh Army had to 'dispel' rumours that there were rifts between the Yunus government and the armed forces. Brigadier General Nazim-Ud-Doul said the army is working 'harmoniously and in mutual understanding" and assured that there is 'no room for misinterpretation". to hold elections by the end of 2025. Army Chief General Wakar-Uz-Zaman has been vocal about the need for timely elections. However, a lack of clarity from the interim leadership on when polls might be held has fueled unease within the army ranks. Adding to the strain is a contentious proposal to create a corridor from Cox's Bazar to Myanmar's Rakhine state, aimed at facilitating aid and movement for Rohingya refugees, an idea that has drawn sharp concern over national security. Bangladesh Army officials strongly denied any intent to seize political power. 'We have no intention, no interest, and no information to suggest anything of that sort," said Col Md Shafiqul Islam, colonel staff of the Ministry of Defence. He called the proposed corridor a 'sensitive' issue and made it clear the military would not back any plan that threatens Bangladesh's security. But How Did Bangladesh Get Here? The ousting of Sheikh Hasina marked a significant turning point in Bangladesh's political landscape. The wave of protests and counter-protests in Bangladesh turned deadly, with at least 366 people reported killed since the unrest began, according to official tallies. Mobs ransacked offices of the ruling Awami League across several districts, targeting party leaders and supporters. Several Awami League members were lynched, and at least a dozen police officers lost their lives while trying to control the violence. Protesters also set fire to police stations and government buildings, triggering brutal crackdowns. During the peak of the unrest, angry mobs ransacked the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, a site dedicated to the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's founding father. Statues of Sheikh Mujib were defaced and several relics from the 1971 Liberation War were damaged or destroyed. The military intervened at the time and helped establish an interim government, but the transition period has been marred by widespread violence, particularly targeting minority communities. Reports indicate that from August 4 to August 20, over 2,000 incidents of violence against minorities, including attacks on 69 temples, occurred across the country. The Hindu community, which constitutes 8% of Bangladesh's population, has been disproportionately affected. In the wake of Hasina's resignation, numerous Hindu homes, businesses and places of worship were vandalized or destroyed. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that more than 157 families had their homes and businesses attacked, looted or set on fire during this period. The recent surge in violence against minorities is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and extremism in Bangladesh. Between 2013 and 2016, the country witnessed a series of brutal attacks by Islamist extremists targeting secular bloggers, academics, and religious minorities. In 2015, atheist blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death in Dhaka and several other secular writers, human rights and LGBTQ activists faced similar fates. These attacks were often carried out by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, who have close ties with Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islamic Chhatra Shibir. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. 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
12 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
How PM Modi's Idea Of An All-Party Squad After Op Sindoor Works On Five Levels
Last Updated: It is one of India's strongest shows of bipartisan unity between the government and the Opposition in many decades Uddhav Sena called it a 'baraat' or wedding party. The Congress was upset that its own leader, Shashi Tharoor, was acting like the BJP's 'super spokesman". Even a section of the BJP's own support base was unpleasantly surprised that the Narendra Modi government was using its own bitter opponents in an overseas mission. Some said it betrayed the BJP's weakness in setting the global narrative. But beyond what is immediately visible lies a masterclass in Modi's political manoeuvre. And it works at levels and over a length of time far beyond the obvious. Here are five ways in which the roping in of politicians from the most diverse ideologies helps the nation, the government, and the party. The 59-member team visiting 32 countries and the European Union headquarters in Brussels includes Opposition leaders ranging from Shashi Tharoor of the Congress to Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM, Kanimozhi of the DMK to Supriya Sule of the NCP, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Uddhav Sena to John Brittas of the CPM. First, it is one of India's strongest shows of bipartisan unity between the government and the Opposition in many decades. There have been other occasions, for instance during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 or after the Pokhran nuclear tests, when various Opposition parties supported the government's war efforts. But this is the first time the Centre has so boldly adopted a Team India approach to diplomacy. Second, the whole initiative serves to break down the walls around communication between the Central government and the Opposition. It also makes floor management easier in Parliament. Third, raising a unified voice against terrorism and India's enemies like Pakistan gives the non-BJP leaders—who are sometimes accused of taking unpatriotic stands on internal and external security—a new goodwill among citizens. It incentivises nationalism for the Opposition. Love and service for the nation, in their unconditional form, are their own reward. But in politics, they incidentally also fetch votes. Fourth, PM Modi's initiative has created a talent pool of national spokespersons from across party lines speaking beyond party lines, exclusively for Bharat. It has added brilliant orators like Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi to the exceptional tradition of oratory which the BJP-RSS family brings. It deepens India's bench strength in setting the diplomatic and political narrative worldwide. And fifth, in one stroke, PM Modi and his government have managed to marginalise grumpy and rabidly anti-Modi legacy leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray, as well as the loony Left and Islamists. Even within their respective parties and voter bases, the united outreach shows these leaders as petty, narcissistic, and even inimical to India's interests. RaGa's rants and false accusations on Operation Sindoor are being discredited by Congress and Opposition representatives themselves in several world capitals. The entire exercise brings a paradigm shift. It moves the middle ground of Indian politics quite a few feet towards the nationalist Right and away from the globalist Left. All these are happening quietly and simultaneously, leaving social media busy and confused about whom to side with, because the sides have blurred. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
14 hours ago
- Politics
Supporters of Bangladesh's ex-premier Khaleda Zia rally to call for a general election
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Tens of thousands of students and youths from a leading Bangladeshi political party rallied in the capital, Dhaka, on Wednesday, calling for a general election in December as discontent grows with the interim government appointed after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Activists from three groups linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia gathered on the streets outside its party headquarters, under heightened security. Wednesday's rally was held after weeks of political tensions after interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus threatened to quit and the influential military chief publicly declared his support for an election in December. Zia, who has been suffering from ill-health for several years, recently returned to Bangladesh after four months of medical treatment in London, putting further pressure on Bangladesh's interim government to call an election. Hasina, Zia's archrival, has been in exile in India since she was toppled last year by a mass uprising. Her party, the Awami League, was also banned by the interim government. The BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, Zia's elder son, was expected to address the rally later on Wednesday by video link from London, where he is in exile. The interim government has been shaken by a series of protests, including by civil servants, primary school teachers and employees at the national revenue service in recent weeks. They accuse the government of failures in prosecuting organized crime figures responsible for killing and injuring hundreds of people. Business bodies have also criticized Yunus over the weakness of the economy and labor unrest. When Yunus came to power, he promised to make reforms in areas including the election law, women's rights and general administration, but the process has been slow and his critics believe he is using delaying tactics to remain in power. The 10 months of rule under Yunus also marked a visible rise of influence by Islamists in the Muslim-majority country, which is governed largely by a secular constitution and legal system. A fatigued military, which has been out of barracks since July last year to maintain law and order, is unhappy because of the delay in returning to democracy. The BNP recently met with Yunus and reiterated its demand for an election in December, saying that if Yunus quits, the country will find an alternative leader. But Yunus' associates later said he was staying. Yunus promised to hold an election by June 2026, depending on the extent of reforms it has undertaken. The BNP, which is hopeful of forming the next government in absence of Hasina's Awami League, said the pace of implementation of reforms should not be an excuse to delay the election and argued that the reform is a continuous process.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia's backers demand new election
AP image Tens of thousands of students and youths from a leading Bangladeshi political party rallied in the capital, Dhaka, on Wednesday, calling for a general election in December as discontent grows with the interim government appointed after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Activists from three groups linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia gathered on the streets outside its party headquarters, under heightened security. Wednesday's rally was held after weeks of political tensions after interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus threatened to quit and the influential military chief publicly declared his support for an election in December. Zia, who has been suffering from ill-health for several years, recently returned to Bangladesh after four months of medical treatment in London, putting further pressure on Bangladesh's interim government to call an election. "We have come here to respond to the call for the unity of the young people. We want democracy, we want election. Next election should be held soon, not later than December," Jahangir Hossain, a student activist, told The Associated Press. "We are united for democracy." Hasina, Zia's archrival, has been in exile in India since she was toppled last year by a mass uprising. Her party, the Awami League, was also banned by the interim government. The BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, Zia's elder son, addressed the rally later on Wednesday by video link from London, where he is in exile. Detailing his party's future plans for youth and others, Rahman reiterated his call for the next elections to be held in December and asked his supporters to prepare. "The polls must be held by December. It has to take place within December," he said. The interim government has been shaken by a series of protests, including by civil servants, primary school teachers and employees at the national revenue service in recent weeks. Many, including New York-based Human Rights Watch, accuse the government of failures in prosecuting organized crime figures responsible for killing and injuring hundreds of people. The rights group in a statement this month blamed the interim administration for legislative initiatives that undermine fundamental freedoms, Business bodies have also criticized Yunus over the weakness of the economy and labor unrest. When Yunus came to power, he promised to make reforms in areas including the election law, women's rights and general administration, but the process has been slow and his critics believe he is using delaying tactics to remain in power. The 10 months of rule under Yunus also marked a visible rise of influence by Islamists in the Muslim-majority country, which is governed largely by a secular constitution and legal system. A fatigued military, which has been out of barracks since July last year to maintain law and order, is unhappy because of the delay in returning to democracy. The BNP recently met with Yunus and reiterated its demand for an election in December, saying that if Yunus quits, the country will find an alternative leader. But Yunus' associates later said he was staying. Yunus promised to hold an election by June 2026, depending on the extent of reforms it has undertaken. The BNP, which is hopeful of forming the next government with the absence of Hasina's Awami League, said the pace of implementation of reforms should not be an excuse to delay the election and argued that the reform is a continuous process.
San Francisco Chronicle
16 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Supporters of Bangladesh's ex-Premier Khaleda Zia rally to call for a general election
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Tens of thousands of students and youths from a leading Bangladeshi political party rallied in the capital, Dhaka, on Wednesday, calling for a general election in December as discontent grows with the interim government appointed after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Activists from three groups linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia gathered on the streets outside its party headquarters, under heightened security. Wednesday's rally was held after weeks of political tensions after interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus threatened to quit and the influential military chief publicly declared his support for an election in December. Zia, who has been suffering from ill-health for several years, recently returned to Bangladesh after four months of medical treatment in London, putting further pressure on Bangladesh's interim government to call an election. 'We have come here to respond to the call for the unity of the young people. We want democracy, we want election. Next election should be held soon, not later than December,' Jahangir Hossain, a student activist, told The Associated Press. 'We are united for democracy.' Hasina, Zia's archrival, has been in exile in India since she was toppled last year by a mass uprising. Her party, the Awami League, was also banned by the interim government. The BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, Zia's elder son, was expected to address the rally later on Wednesday by video link from London, where he is in exile. The interim government has been shaken by a series of protests, including by civil servants, primary school teachers and employees at the national revenue service in recent weeks. Many, including New York-based Human Rights Watch, accuse the government of failures in prosecuting organized crime figures responsible for killing and injuring hundreds of people. The rights group in a statement this month blamed the interim administration for legislative initiatives that undermine fundamental freedoms, Business bodies have also criticized Yunus over the weakness of the economy and labor unrest. When Yunus came to power, he promised to make reforms in areas including the election law, women's rights and general administration, but the process has been slow and his critics believe he is using delaying tactics to remain in power. The 10 months of rule under Yunus also marked a visible rise of influence by Islamists in the Muslim-majority country, which is governed largely by a secular constitution and legal system. A fatigued military, which has been out of barracks since July last year to maintain law and order, is unhappy because of the delay in returning to democracy. The BNP recently met with Yunus and reiterated its demand for an election in December, saying that if Yunus quits, the country will find an alternative leader. But Yunus' associates later said he was staying. Yunus promised to hold an election by June 2026, depending on the extent of reforms it has undertaken. The BNP, which is hopeful of forming the next government with the absence of Hasina's Awami League, said the pace of implementation of reforms should not be an excuse to delay the election and argued that the reform is a continuous process.
