Editor-DN
Bangladesh’s new leadership now depends on a powerful military.
Dhaka:
A day after the army took control of Bangladesh after its prime minister was sacked, parliament in the capital, Dhaka, was busy with protesters coming to celebrate.
More than a month of deadly protests that have left at least 422 people dead culminated on Monday in the deadliest day of violence and the end of the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India by helicopter.
“This is the freedom of the young generation,” student Parvez Hussain, 30, said to a crowd in front of the building, which was empty of lawmakers after parliament was dissolved.
On Monday, protesters stormed the building, jumping on tables and setting off what appeared to be smoke bombs.
Hussain spoke of his hope for a fresh start and idealism for a better future.
He said that now we have regained the independence of Bangladesh. “We want to rebuild the country in a new way.”
The unrest began last month with student-led protests against job quotas in the civil service and escalated into mass protests, calling for the resignation of Hasina Wajid, who has been in power since 2009. .
But while busy streets and open shops in Dhaka gave early signs that daily life had almost returned to normal, at least 10 people were killed on Tuesday, and security remains a concern.
The charred ruins of the former ruling party’s offices and the looted homes of Hasina’s so-called loyalists showed the scale of the brutal violence in the chaos at the end of her rule.
This includes violence against police who reported reprisal attacks by people who accused officers of trying to crush protests with deadly force.
‘People’s Rage’
Police unions said their members had gone on strike on Tuesday “until every member of the police is protected”.
The union also apologized for the police action against the protesters.
With the police on strike, citizens took it upon themselves to direct traffic, with students standing at junctions to organize traffic.
Nazrul Islam, 60, who works in pharmaceuticals, said the students lit the spark to get people to protest against wider grievances.
“People’s anger also exploded with the students’ protest. It was impossible to stem the tide,” he said.
“Everyone had hidden anger. Now we just want no dictator to come back to power.”
Some Hindu-owned businesses and houses were also attacked, witnesses said, which some saw near Hasina in the Muslim-majority country.
Bangladeshi rights groups, as well as US and EU diplomats, said on Tuesday they were “deeply concerned” by reports of attacks on religious, ethnic and other minority groups.
Curious citizens, meanwhile, wandered through the dilapidated interior of Hasina’s palace in Dhaka, snapping photos in front of her trashed furniture and marveling at the sumptuous luxury.
Bangladesh’s new leadership now rests with the powerful military, which has said it will form an interim government.
But whatever the future holds, Noorul Islam, a 60-year-old cycle rickshaw taxi driver, said he was glad Hasina was gone.
“People have not had any peace for the past 15 years,” he said, taking a break from the bustling street.
“She was not even elected by popular vote, but seized power as a dictator.”
(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
