Bangladesh is at a crossroads

The resignation and departure of Bangladesh’s prime minister after weeks of bloody protests was greeted with “euphoria” and some concern about the government’s transition, Gwyn Lewis, the United Nations resident coordinator in Bangladesh, told UN News in an interview.

Lewis also noted that “young people and people from all walks of life in Bangladesh, across the country, came out to celebrate.” The prime minister Sheikh Hasina He had been in power since January 2009, after having also led the country between 1996 and 2001.

Some of the Celebrations following Hasina’s resignation took a violent turnleading to scenes of destruction, vandalism, attacks on police stations and murders of police officers considered to be pro-government.

Bloodshed

More than 300 civilians have been killed and more than 20,000 injured in student protests in recent weeks, making This bloodshed is one of the worst ever witnessed in Bangladesh..

The unrest began in July with student protests against quotas for civil service jobs. Although the quota rules were repealed, protests erupted again last week, with the key demand being that the prime minister resign and those responsible for the violent repression of the protests held accountable.

Relative calm returned to the country on Tuesday morning, but the situation remains uncertain until a transitional government is formed, according to the resident coordinator. Media suggest Muhammad Yunus will lead interim government.

What triggered the protests?

Asked how the protests led to the demand for the prime minister’s dismissal, Lewis said: “We must all remember that A highly controversial election was held in December and that there was a strong feeling in the country that they had not been free and fair.”

This political frustration was exacerbated by rising food and fuel prices, which pushed more marginalized Bengalis deeper into poverty, Lewis said.

Young people were particularly affected when the government announced in June a court order on civil service quotas that favoured those considered elite, making it difficult for the two million young people who join the country’s workforce each year to find work.

Although the plan was withdrawn, protests against it merged with calls for Sheikh Hasina to resign, accused of not listening to their concerns.

Many civilians from different sectors of society joined the protests “calling for change and that was the change they were unable to see during the December elections,” Lewis said.

Hope for the future

Despite the chaos of recent weeks, the UN Resident Coordinator described the mood in the country as “hopeful.”

“If this transitional government is formed, when that happens, and the voices of the country’s youth are heard, I think we can really move forward to continue the path of positive development“he added, highlighting Bangladesh’s progress towards achieving its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“It is really a crossroads moment for Bangladesh, so we really hope that this turns into something very positive that we can build on for our colleagues who are Bangladeshis and for the people of Bangladesh,” Lewis concluded.