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Times of Oman
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Bangladesh to hold elections in February 2026
Bangladesh is set to hold elections in February 2026, the country's interim leader and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus said Tuesday. It will be the first election in Bangladesh since a mass uprising overthrew the government of prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Hasina stepped down in August 2024 and fled to India, after weeks of deadly protests that started over a controversial quota system for government jobs, but morphed into a wider anti-government movement. "On behalf of the interim government, I will write a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the election be arranged before Ramadan in February 2026," Yunus said in a broadcast on the one-year anniversary of Hasina's ouster. As leader of a caretaker government, Yunus said he will step down after the vote. "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 said. Yunus said his administration will ensure the election is conducted in a fair, peaceful manner. Thousands celebrate uprising anniversary Ahead of the announcement, thousands of Bangladeshis gathered in the capital, Dhaka, to mark the first anniversary of the mass protest movement. Rallies, concerts, and prayer sessions were to celebrate the anniversary, which supporters of the movement dubbed a "second liberation." During the commemorations, Yunus read out the "July Declaration," which is meant to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 student-led uprising. "The people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get proper state and constitutional recognition," said Yunus, with representatives of political parties present. "The July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election,' he added. "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," Yunus emphasized.
France 24
05-08-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Bangladesh's Yunus calls for reform on revolution anniversary
But Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old who is leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held, also warned against those he said sought to roll back gains made. "Today marks an unforgettable chapter in the history of Bangladesh", Yunus said, marking a day he said had led to "liberating our beloved nation from the grip of long-standing fascist rule". Yunus will address expected crowds outside parliament in the evening --- where he is slated to issue a "proclamation" alongside leaders of key political parties. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, ending her 15-year rule. The anniversary is a public holiday, and apart from scattered political rallies, the streets of the capital Dhaka were quiet. Ordinary Bangladeshis who could took the opportunity to relax while others continued the daily grind of work. "The working class people sacrificed their lives in large numbers and then returned to their regular jobs," said Rafiqul Islam Helal, 40, running a roadside tea stall. "Politics doesn't help us pay the bills, so we didn't take part in any programmes." 'Stand united' Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents, and Yunus has pledged to overhaul democratic institutions. "The sacrifice of thousands has gifted us this rare opportunity for national reform, and we must protect it at any cost," Yunus said in letter issued to mark the anniversary. "The fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active, conspiring to derail our progress." But he said that while the interim government had made "extensive reform efforts", a deal on measures to prevent a return to authoritarian rule remained elusive. Efforts have made slow progress as political parties jostle for power ahead of elections, slated for early 2026. "Dialogue continues with political parties and stakeholders on necessary reforms, including the political and electoral systems", he added. He called for people to remember the sacrifices made last year and work together. "Let us stand united beyond all divisions to confront and defeat these threats," he added. "Together, we will build a Bangladesh where tyranny will never rise again." Protests began on July 1, 2024, with university students calling for reforms to a quota system for public sector jobs. They culminated on August 5, 2024, when thousands of protesters stormed Hasina's palace as she escaped by helicopter. Hasina, 77, remains in India, where she has defied court orders to attend her ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity.
Japan Times
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Former prime minister's palace in Bangladesh to become revolution museum
Once a heavily guarded palace, the former official residence of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina is being turned into a museum as a lasting reminder of her autocratic rule. Photographs of jubilant flag-waving crowds clambering onto the rooftop of the Dhaka palace after Hasina fled by helicopter to India were a defining image of the culmination of student-led protests that toppled her government on Aug. 5, 2024. One year later, with the South Asian nation of around 170 million people still in political turmoil, the authorities hope the sprawling Ganabhaban palace offers a message to the future. Graffiti daubed on the walls condemning her regime remains untouched. "Freedom," one message reads. "We want justice." Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 in her failed bid to cling to power, according to the United Nations. The 77-year-old has defied court orders to attend her ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity in Dhaka, accusations she denies. "Dictator," another message reads, among scores being protected for posterity. "Killer Hasina." Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government until elections are held in early 2026, said the conversion to a museum would "preserve memories of her misrule and the people's anger when they removed her from power." 'Symbol of fascism' Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, 27, a rights activist and documentary photographer, was one of the thousands who stormed the luxurious palace, when crowds danced in her bedroom, feasted on food from the kitchens, and swam in the lake Hasina used to fish in. "It will visualize and symbolize the past trauma, the past suffering — and also the resistance," he said. "Ganabhaban is a symbol of fascism, the symbol of an autocratic regime." The complex was built by Hasina's father, the first leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Hasina made it her official residence during her 15 years in power. Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, a rights activist and documentary photographer, in front of the former official residence of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka on July 28 | AFP-JIJI Tanzim Wahab, the curator of the under-construction museum, said that exhibits would include artifacts of the protesters killed. Their life stories will be told through films and photographs, while plaques will host the names of the people killed by the security forces during the longer period of Hasina's rule. "The museum's deeper purpose is retrospective, looking back at the long years of misrule and oppression," said Wahab. "That, I believe, is one of the most important aspects of this project." Wahab said the museum would include animation and interactive installations, as well as documenting the tiny cells where Hasina's opponents were detained in suffocating conditions. "We want young people ... to use it as a platform for discussing democratic ideas, new thinking, and how to build a new Bangladesh," Wahab said. 'Statues of dictatorship' That chimes with the promised bolstering of democratic institutions that interim leader Yunus wants to ensure before elections — efforts slowed as political parties jostle for power. The challenges he faces are immense, warned Human Rights Watch ahead of the one-year anniversary of the revolution. "The interim government appears stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on Hasina's supporters than protecting Bangladeshis' rights," HRW said. But while Hasina's palace is being preserved, protesters have torn down many other visible signs of her rule. Statues of Hasina's father were toppled, and portraits of the duo torn and torched. Protesters even used digger excavators to smash down the home of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — that Hasina had turned into a museum to her father. "When the dictatorship falls, its Mecca will go, too," said Muhibullah Al Mashnun, who was among the crowds that tore down the house. The 23-year-old student believes that removing such symbols was necessary for Bangladesh to move forward to a better future. "They were the statues of dictatorship," Mashnun said.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bangladesh ex-PM palace becomes revolution museum
Once a heavily guarded palace, the former official residence of Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina is being turned into a museum as a lasting reminder of her autocratic rule. Photographs of jubilant flag-waving crowds clambering onto the rooftop of the Dhaka palace after Hasina fled by helicopter to India were a defining image of the culmination of student-led protests that toppled her government on August 5, 2024. One year later, with the South Asian nation of around 170 million people still in political turmoil, the authorities hope the sprawling Ganabhaban palace offers a message to the future. Graffiti daubed on the walls condemning her regime remains untouched. "Freedom", one message reads. "We want justice." Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 in her failed bid to cling to power, according to the United Nations. The 77-year-old has defied court orders to attend her ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity in Dhaka, accusations she denies. "Dictator", another message reads, among scores being protected for posterity. "Killer Hasina". Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government until elections are held in early 2026, said the conversion to a museum would "preserve memories of her misrule and the people's anger when they removed her from power". - 'Symbol of fascism' - Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, 27, a rights activist and documentary photographer, was one of the thousands who stormed the luxurious palace, when crowds danced in her bedroom, feasted on food from the kitchens, and swam in the lake Hasina used to fish in. "It will visualise and symbolise the past trauma, the past suffering -- and also the resistance," he said. "Ganabhaban is a symbol of fascism, the symbol of an autocratic regime". The complex was built by Hasina's father, the first leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Hasina made it her official residence during her 15 years in power. Tanzim Wahab, the curator of the under-construction museum, told AFP that exhibits would include artefacts of the protesters killed. Their life stories will be told through films and photographs, while plaques will host the names of the people killed by the security forces during the longer period of Hasina's rule. "The museum's deeper purpose is retrospective, looking back at the long years of misrule and oppression", said Wahab. "That, I believe, is one of the most important aspects of this project." Wahab said the museum would include animation and interactive installations, as well as documenting the tiny cells where Hasina's opponents were detained in suffocating conditions. "We want young people... to use it as a platform for discussing democratic ideas, new thinking, and how to build a new Bangladesh," Wahab said. - 'Statues of dictatorship' - That chimes with the promised bolstering of democratic institutions that interim leader Yunus wants to ensure before elections -- efforts slowed as political parties jostle for power. The challenges he faces are immense, warned Human Rights Watch ahead of the one-year anniversary of the revolution. "The interim government appears stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on Hasina's supporters than protecting Bangladeshis' rights," HRW said. But while Hasina's palace is being preserved, protesters have torn down many other visible signs of her rule. Statues of Hasina's father were toppled, and portraits of the duo torn and torched. Protesters even used digger excavators to smash down the home of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- that Hasina had turned into a museum to her father. "When the dictatorship falls, its Mecca will go too," said Muhibullah Al Mashnun, who was among the crowds that tore down the house. The 23-year-old student believes that removing such symbols was necessary for Bangladesh to move forward to a better future. "They were the statues of dictatorship," Mashnun said. mma/pjm/mtp/jfx
CNA
02-08-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Bangladesh to unveil democratic overhauls on revolution anniversary
DHAKA: Bangladesh's interim government said on Saturday (Aug 2) it will release its slate of democratic overhauls on Aug 5, the one-year anniversary of the overthrow of the previous autocratic administration. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Aug 5, 2024, ending her 15-year rule. Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held, has said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration. Yunus previously pledged to unveil a "big package" to overhaul democratic institutions. But efforts to reach agreements have made slow progress as political parties jostle for power ahead of elections, slated for early 2026. Yunus's government has warned that political power struggles risk jeopardising the gains that have been made. On Jul 29, Yunus said he was working to "build a broad national consensus around a renewed political system - one that delivers inclusive, participatory, and credible elections". Yunus's office said on Saturday that the "July Proclamation" would be "presented to the nation ... in the presence of all political parties involved in the mass uprising". Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents. Her government was also accused of politicising courts and the civil service, staging lopsided elections and dismantling democratic checks on its power. Hasina, 77, fled to India, where she has defied court orders to attend her ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity. Protests began on Jul 1, 2024, with university students calling for reforms to a quota system for public sector jobs. They culminated on Aug 5, 2024, when thousands of protesters stormed Hasina's palace as she escaped by helicopter.
