Latest news with #OperationDevilHunt
United News of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Bangladesh: Awami League rails against deteriorating human rights under Yunus administration
Dhaka, May 22 (UNI) Bangladesh's Awami League has slammed the country's Army-backed interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, for the controversial ban imposed on the party and the collapse of human rights. Drawing attention to a report by Human Rights Watch this year, the party noted that since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024, there has been significant international concern and condemnation for the suppression of fundamental freedoms and enabling of Islamic extremists, despite early promises to restore democracy. According to The Human Rights Watch, the controversial ban on the Awami League—the country's founding group and its oldest party led by ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — enforced earlier this month under new amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, has prohibited all political activity and speech in support of the party. Besides, the Election Commission later revoked the party's registration entirely. Also, a sweeping re-interpretation of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act has allowed authorities to prosecute individuals and organisations deemed to support banned groups. The Human Rights Watch and other observers have highlighted the failure of the new government to address the alleged human rights violations committed under the Awami League's 15-year rule, particularly enforced disappearances. A commission established to investigate these cases has documented over 1,600 complaints, with nearly 200 people still missing. However, the proposed legislation fails to meet international standards, lacks independence, and excludes systemic abuses from its scope—effectively shielding security forces and high-ranking officials from accountability. Since Yunus's rise to power, the country has seen a marked fall in social stability, with increased harassment of civil society groups by mobs, Islamic groups, and the policy. The groups, comprising social workers, activists, lawyers, writers, journalists, academics, among others have reported a sharp uptick in politically motivated arrests of artists, journalists, and opposition activists. Over 11,000 people have reportedly been detained in the government's 'Operation Devil Hunt' campaign targeting Awami League supporters. Simultaneously, minority and indigenous communities have experienced rising violence and intimidation. Attacks on Hindu temples and tribal students, as well as a softening of secular education policies, suggest increasing influence of conservative Islamist elements within the state. The inclusion of individuals with known radical links in advisory positions has further fuelled concerns about Bangladesh's long-standing secular identity. Despite promises to uphold democratic values, Yunus's administration is now increasingly being accused of authoritarianism, and uprooting the country's traditional democratic, socialist, pluralistic, secular, and nationalistic fabric, in favour of a radical theocratic government. Human rights advocates are calling for the interim government to protect civil liberties, allow political opposition, ensure accountability for past abuses, and resist creeping religious extremism. UNI ANV SSP
Express Tribune
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BD women alarmed by emboldened Islamists
Arrested for sexually harassing a Bangladeshi university student, Asif Sardar Arnab was soon released — greeted by a cheering crowd who presented him with flower garlands. His alleged victim was a student who enthusiastically supported the youth-led uprising that overthrew the Muslim-majority nation's autocratic government last year. That young woman, after receiving a torrent of violent threats from religious hardliners emboldened by the political upheaval, now wonders whether she made the right choice. "A perpetrator was freed because of a mob," she said in a social media post. "You can't imagine the number of rape and death threats I've received," added the woman, who cannot be identified due to Bangladeshi laws designed to protect sexual harassment complainants from retribution. "We made a mistake by joining the movement. So many people sacrificed their lives in vain." Several recent cases of sexual violence have captured public attention. An eight-year-old girl died Thursday from wounds she sustained during a rape days earlier — a case that prompted days of protests and vigils by women in Dhaka and elsewhere. Such is the level of public anger that police have begun transporting rape suspects to court in the middle of the night, fearful of attacks. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government which replaced Hasina, condemned the "horrific acts of violence" against women. "This is deeply concerning and completely at odds with our dream of building a new Bangladesh," he said. Yunus's administration has struggled to restore law and order, with many police officers refusing to return to work and the army brought in to help. It has since last month also directed scant police resources to a sweeping crackdown, dubbed Operation Devil Hunt, against gangs allegedly connected to Hasina and working to foment unrest.
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BD army chief warns of national crisis
Bangladesh's army chief on Tuesday blamed infighting for deteriorating law and order, warning that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the government last August were at risk. The South Asian nation has been struggling to stem a surge in violent crime, with the security forces arresting thousands this month targeting gangs allegedly connected to the party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. "If you can't move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk -- I warn you," said General Waker-Uz-Zaman, without singling out any group by name. "Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said at an army memorial event. Bangladesh has been riven by a surge of crime, as well as protests this month where crowds smashed buildings connected to Hasina's family. Last week rival student factions clashed at a university campus, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in driving the uprising against Hasina. Security forces have arrested more than 8,600 people since it launched "Operation Devil Hunt" on February 8, which the government has accused of being Hasina loyalists and of wanting to "destabilise" the country. "The anarchy we have witnessed is manufactured by us," Waker said. Bangladesh has a long history of military coups. While it was Waker who took charge after Hasina fled by helicopter to India on August 5, he had also urged the people to back Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus. Yunus, 84, vows to institute far-reaching democratic reforms and hold general elections in late 2025 or in early 2026, and Waker had sworn in the interim government. "At the beginning, I said it would take 18 months to hold an election," Waker said. "We are on that path. Professor Yunus is doing his best to keep us united. Let's help him." Key student protest leader Nahid Islam resigned on Tuesday from the government cabinet -- where he headed the telecoms ministry -- ahead of the expected launch of a new political party on Friday. Yunus has said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration and justice that needs a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to autocracy. Waker said security forces accused of a raft of allegations "of enforced disappearances, murder, and torture must be investigated". "Punishment must be ensured," he said. "Otherwise, we will be trapped in the same cycle." The armed forces were granted judicial powers like the police -- including making arrests -- after the revolution. But Waker, a career infantry officer who has spent nearly four decades in the military, serving two tours as a UN peacekeeper, said he just wanted a break. "I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation", he said. "After that, we will return to our barracks."
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bangladesh army chief warns country 'at risk' from infighting
Bangladesh's army chief on Tuesday blamed infighting for deteriorating law and order, warning that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the government last August were at risk. The South Asian nation has been struggling to stem a surge in violent crime, with the security forces arresting thousands this month targeting gangs allegedly connected to the party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. "If you can't move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk -- I warn you," said General Waker-Uz-Zaman, without singling out any group by name. "Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said at an army memorial event. Bangladesh has been riven by a surge of crime, as well as protests this month where crowds smashed buildings connected to Hasina's family. Last week rival student factions clashed at a university campus, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in driving the uprising against Hasina. Security forces have arrested more than 8,600 people since it launched "Operation Devil Hunt" on February 8, which the government has accused of being Hasina loyalists and of wanting to "destabilise" the country. "The anarchy we have witnessed is manufactured by us," Waker said. - 'Trapped in the same cycle' - Bangladesh has a long history of military coups. While it was Waker who took charge after Hasina fled by helicopter to India on August 5, he had also urged the people to back Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus. Yunus, 84, vows to institute far-reaching democratic reforms and hold general elections in late 2025 or in early 2026, and Waker had sworn in the interim government. "At the beginning, I said it would take 18 months to hold an election," Waker said. "We are on that path. Professor Yunus is doing his best to keep us united. Let's help him." Key student protest leader Nahid Islam resigned on Tuesday from the government cabinet -- where he headed the telecoms ministry -- ahead of the expected launch of a new political party on Friday. Yunus has said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration and justice that needs a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to autocracy. Waker said security forces accused of a raft of allegations "of enforced disappearances, murder, and torture must be investigated". "Punishment must be ensured," he said. "Otherwise, we will be trapped in the same cycle." The armed forces were granted judicial powers like the police -- including making arrests -- after the revolution. But Waker, a career infantry officer who has spent nearly four decades in the military, serving two tours as a UN peacekeeper, said he just wanted a break. "I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation", he said. "After that, we will return to our barracks." sa/pjm/dhc
Khaleej Times
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Bangladesh army chief warns country 'at risk' from infighting
Bangladesh's army chief on Tuesday blamed infighting for deteriorating law and order, warning that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the government last August were at risk. The South Asian nation has been struggling to stem a surge in violent crime, with the security forces arresting thousands this month targeting gangs allegedly connected to the party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. "If you can't move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk — I warn you," said General Waker-Uz-Zaman, without singling out any group by name. "Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said at an army memorial event. Bangladesh has been riven by a surge of crime, as well as protests this month where crowds smashed buildings connected to Hasina's family. Last week, rival student factions clashed at a university campus, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in driving the uprising against Hasina. Security forces have arrested more than 8,600 people since it launched "Operation Devil Hunt" on February 8, which the government has accused of being Hasina loyalists and of wanting to "destabilise" the country. "The anarchy we have witnessed is manufactured by us," Waker said. Bangladesh has a long history of military coups. While it was Waker who took charge after Hasina fled by helicopter to India on August 5, he had also urged the people to back Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus. Yunus, 84, vows to institute far-reaching democratic reforms and hold general elections in late 2025 or in early 2026, and Waker had sworn in the interim government. "At the beginning, I said it would take 18 months to hold an election," Waker said. "We are on that path. Professor Yunus is doing his best to keep us united. Let's help him." Key student protest leader Nahid Islam resigned on Tuesday from the government cabinet — where he headed the telecoms ministry — ahead of the expected launch of a new political party on Friday. Yunus has said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration and justice that needs a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to autocracy. Waker said security forces accused of a raft of allegations "of enforced disappearances, murder and torture must be investigated". "Punishment must be ensured," he said. "Otherwise, we will be trapped in the same cycle." The armed forces were granted judicial powers like the police — including making arrests — after the revolution. But Waker, a career infantry officer who has spent nearly four decades in the military, serving two tours as a UN peacekeeper, said he just wanted a break. "I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation", he said. "After that, we will return to our barracks."
