In brief
Following an address by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, protests led by students turned violent as they clashed with her supporters, highlighting ongoing political tensions in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is witnessing an intense resurgence of violence as a group of student protesters, who were instrumental in ousting former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, clashed with her political supporters. The incidents began after Hasina announced she would address the nation via audio from India, where she has been residing since her removal. Students worried this would incite further conflict, resulting in them bulldozing and setting fire to a historic museum linked to Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a key figure in the nation’s founding.Over three days, altercations erupted between the students and Awami League supporters, prompting the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, to launch "Operation Devil Hunt." This crackdown mobilized police and paramilitary forces to quell sympathizers of the rioting. Hasina’s speech commemorating her father’s legacy sparked significant backlash, leading to aggressive responses from both sides in Dhaka.In response to escalating tensions, Yunus urged citizens to uphold the law and promised a new governance framework distinct from the previous regime’s authoritarian practices. Reports indicate that over 1,300 individuals have been arrested amidst these violent stirrings, primarily from Hasina’s party, although they are planning protests of their own to regain political ground. The Awami League has sought to label the student activists as extremist factions, reminiscent of historical conflicts during Bangladesh's independence.
