Latest news with #JulyDeclaration
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Protests Anniversary: Muhammad Yunus Announces Bangladesh Elections
Rabat – Muhammad Yunus announced, on August 5, that Bangladesh will hold its first elections since the fall of Sheikh Hasina before February. This announcement was made after a day of celebrations in the nation's capital, Dhaka. Concerts, rallies, and prayer sessions were held to celebrate the second liberation. Throughout the celebrations, the police were on high alert with street patrols to deter members of the now-banned Awami League. These celebrations were held to mark the first anniversary of the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina and culminated in the announcement. Yunus said that the state would be the centre of the nation's democratization process. 'We will step into the final and most important phase after delivering this speech to you and that is the transfer of power to an elected government,' said Yunus on stage. 'On behalf of the government, we will extend all necessary support to ensure that the election is free, peaceful and celebratory in spirit.' The interim leader was joined on the stage by representatives of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party. Yunus had previously said that the elections would be held in April, but due to pressure from democratic parties asking for it to take place before Ramadan, he changed the date. The request that will be formally sent by Yunus to the election commission will decide on the date to hold the democratic vote, which will build a legitimate government mandate. When discussing his intention to vote, Yunus stated: 'For many years, none of us have been able to vote. This time, we will all vote. No one will be left out. Let us all be able to say that I cast my vote to set the country on the path to building a new Bangladesh.' The interim government of Bangladesh created after the overthrow of Hasina last year has been leading a democratic reform process. In July, Yunus made the July Declaration, a 28-point document that gave constitutional recognition to the student-led uprising and promised democratic reform. Sheikh Hasina's administration has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, abductions, and murders. She was removed from office following a student-backed uprising in 2024 and remains in India under absentia. The election is seen as a beacon of hope for democracy in Bangladesh, and if it works well, could strengthen the nature of governance within the state. Tags: Bangladesh NewsMuhammad yunus
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Bangladesh vows democratic renewal on first anniversary of Hasina's overthrow
'The July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election,' he said. Supporters see the charter as a foundation for institutional reform. Critics said its impact could be largely symbolic in the absence of a legal framework or parliamentary consensus. Yunus said in an address to the nation he would ask the election commission to organise national elections to be held in February 2026. 'We must ensure no future government can become fascist again. The state must be restructured in such a way that any sign of fascism, wherever it appears, can be immediately eradicated,' he said. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, which had called for elections to be held before the end of 2025 to prevent a political vacuum, welcomed the February vote. While Hasina's Awami League remains suspended, many believe it should be allowed to participate, despite its top leadership facing prosecution for alleged human rights violations during last year's protests. Earlier on Tuesday, Yunus said, 'fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active', urging unity to protect the gains of the uprising while his government holds talks with political parties and civil society. His government had launched sweeping reforms while trials for those responsible for the 'July killings' of 2024 were progressing swiftly, he said. Crowds waving flags, holding placards, and chanting slogans gathered near parliament, including some who had been injured in the protests. 'On this day in 2024, the tyrant Sheikh Hasina fled the country,' said Ahmedul Hasan. 'I was here last year too. I've come again to remember the moment and join the celebrations.' Others were less exuberant. 'Even after all the bloodshed and sacrifice, a truly liberal democracy in Bangladesh feels like a distant dream,' said Sabbir Ahmed, a college student who joined the protests last year. Police were on alert throughout the capital, with armoured vehicles on patrol to deter any attempt by the Awami League to disrupt events. 'Let the anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow,' Hasina said in an open letter to the people of Bangladesh, adding she had never resigned as prime minister. 'Bangladesh has overcome adversity before, and we will rise again, stronger, more united and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people.'
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Bangladesh will hold general elections in February 2026, says Muhammad Yunus
Bangladesh will hold its next general elections in February 2026, The Daily Star quoted Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country's interim government, as saying on Tuesday. During a televised speech marking a year since the ouster of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government, Yunus said he would formally request the Election Commission to schedule the vote before the start of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on February 17 or 18 next year. In June, he had announced that elections would be held in April 2026. However, the date was advanced amid growing pressure from major political parties, AFP reported. Yunus, a Nobel laureate economist, took over as chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government three days after Hasina resigned as the prime minister and fled to India on August 5. Hasina fled after several weeks of widespread student-led protests against her Awami League government. She was ousted from power after being the prime minister of Bangladesh for 16 years. Yunus has pledged to step down once an elected government takes office. 'We will step into the final and most important phase after delivering this speech to you, and that is the transfer of power to an elected government,' he was quoted as saying by AFP. The interim chief also unveiled the 'July Declaration', which promises full state and constitutional recognition of the 2024 student protests, The Daily Star reported. He said that it was essential to ensure 'no future government can become fascist again', Prothom Alo reported. 'We do not have to wait 16 years and many people do not have to die and we do not need another mass uprising,' he said. On July 10, Hasina was indicted by the country's International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the protests against her government in July 2024 and August 2024. Hasina has been charged with having instigated mass killings during protests against her Awami League government. In February, a United Nations report on the violence said that the Hasina government, the country's security and intelligence services and 'violent elements' associated with her Awami League party had 'systematically engaged in a range of serious human rights violations' during the agitation. Of the 1,400 killed and thousands injured between July 1, 2024, and August 15, 2024, the vast majority were shot by Bangladesh's security forces, the UN report said. Of these, 12% to 13% killed were children. Hasina has denied the allegations and claimed that she is being politically persecuted.
Dubai Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Bangladesh vows democratic renewal on anniversary of Hasina's overthrow
Thousands of people gathered in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of mass protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina, as the interim government unveiled a road map for democratic reform with a national election next year. Rallies, concerts and prayer sessions were held in the capital as people celebrated what they called a "second liberation". The events culminated with Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus reading out the "July Declaration", which seeks to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 student-led uprising in response to repression and economic hardship that forced Hasina, then prime minister, to flee to India on August 5. "The people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get proper state and constitutional recognition," said Yunus, who heads the interim government installed after Hasina's fall, as representatives of political parties looked on. "The July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election," he said. Supporters see the charter as a foundation for institutional reform; critics say its impact could be largely symbolic in the absence of a legal framework or parliamentary consensus. Yunus said he would ask the election commission to organise national elections to be held in February 2026. "We must ensure that no future government can become fascist again. The state must be repaired in such a way that whenever signs of fascism are found anywhere, it can be eradicated immediately," he said. Political parties, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, have urged that elections be held before the end of 2025 to avoid a political vacuum. Yunus said next year's election could be peaceful, fair and transparent. While Hasina's Awami League remains suspended, many believe it should be allowed to participate — despite its top leadership facing prosecution for alleged human rights violations during last year's protests. "Fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active," Yunus said, urging unity to protect the gains of the uprising while his government holds talks with political parties and civil society. His government had already launched sweeping reforms while trials for those responsible for the "July killings" of 2024 were progressing swiftly, he said. Crowds waving flags, holding placards, and chanting slogans gathered near parliament, including some who had been injured in the protests. "On this day in 2024, the tyrant Sheikh Hasina fled the country," said Ahmedul Hasan, who was here last year too. I've come again to remember that moment and join the celebrations." Others were less exuberant. "Even after all the bloodshed and sacrifice, a truly liberal democracy in Bangladesh still feels like a distant dream," said Sabbir Ahmed, a college student who joined the protests last year. Police were on alert throughout the capital, with armoured vehicles on patrol to deter any attempt by the Awami League to disrupt events. "Let this anniversary not be a day of retrospection, but a rallying cry for a brighter tomorrow," Hasina said in an open letter to the people of Bangladesh, adding that she had never resigned as prime minister. "Bangladesh has overcome adversity before, and we will rise again, stronger, more united, and more determined to build a democracy that truly serves its people," she said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The Hindu Morning Digest, August 6, 2025
Don't give China pass, burn relationship with 'strong ally' India: Nikki Haley The U.S. should not burn its relationship with a 'strong ally like India' and give a pass to China, Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025), amid President Donald Trump's attacks against New Delhi over tariffs and purchases of Russian oil. 'India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause,' Ms. Haley said in a post on X. Government can provide national identity cards under Citizenship Act, 1955: Home Ministry The Lok Sabha was recently informed that the Citizenship Act, 1955, provides that the Central Government is to compulsorily register every citizen of India and issue National Identity Cards to them. The Ministry of Home Affairs was responding to a question by Trinamool Congress member Mala Roy about details of cards, which, as per the court of law, is an admissible identity proof as an Indian citizen. DAC approves defence procurement worth ₹67,000 crore to strengthen border security The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sanctioned multiple procurement proposals worth nearly ₹67,000 crore to strengthen the nation's military preparedness. Protests, clamour for special status mark 6th anniversary of Article 370's abrogation in J&K Street protests by regional political parties and the demand for special status marked the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The ruling National Conference (NC) organised street protests in several districts of J&K and demanded the restoration of special status. In Srinagar, NC leaders held a protest at the party headquarters at Nawa-i-Subah. They were carrying placards that read 'August 5, 2019 is unacceptable to us'. Yunus vows constitutional status for 2024 uprising in Bangladesh's 'July Declaration' The student-people uprising of 2024 that overthrew the Sheikh Hasina-led government of Bangladesh will get 'constitutional recognition', said the July Declaration that was launched by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) in Dhaka. The Declaration, launched on the anniversary of the fall of Hasina government, blamed the Awami League for creating a one-party state in Bangladesh after 1971 and said the party was 'loyal to external forces'. Open office concept in Central government offices irks officials The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum, a body representing government officials, has written to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that the open office spaces in new government buildings compromise privacy and pose serious risks to confidentiality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate Kartavya Bhavan-3, one of the first of several upcoming Common Central Secretariat buildings on Wednesday (August 6, 2028). Honest officers must be protected: SC on challenges to amend anti-graft Act The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) said a provision in an anti-corruption law which mandates prior sanction before prosecuting public servants serves to protect honest bureaucrats from becoming victims of political vendetta after a regime change. 'Honest officers who do not toe the line after a change in government will be protected,' Justice K.V. Viswanathan, part of a Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, observed. EU suspends tariff retaliation after Trump trade deal The EU announced the suspension on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods worth 93 billion euros ($107 billion) after Brussels struck a deal with Washington last month. 'The commission has today adopted the necessary legal procedures to suspend the implementation of our EU countermeasures, which were due to kick in on August 7,' EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said. Sponsor mulls legal action if Argentina does not play in Kerala this year The Reporter Broadcasting Company, the Kerala Government's commercial partner for bringing the Argentina football team and its star Lionel Messi to the State, has said that it might be forced to take legal recourse if the World Cup champion does not play in October or November.
