Bangladesh authorities urges calm in wake of youth chief’s killing, as election looms

In Dhaka, movies circulating on social media present mobs vandalizing the workplaces of the nation’s largest day by day newspaper, Prothom Alo, in addition to the Each day Star

Bangladesh’s interim authorities urged individuals on Friday, December 19, to withstand violence as troopers and police fanned out throughout Dhaka and different cities following protests over the killing of a well-liked youth chief, sparking fears of extra unrest forward of nationwide elections through which he had been as a result of run.

The Muslim-majority nation of about 175 million individuals is because of elect a brand new parliament in lower than two months’ time — a transition many hope will assist the nation get well from almost two years of instability and reclaim its place as a South Asian growth success story.

Frequent bouts of violent protests and political wrangling amongst disparate teams together with Islamist hardliners have, nonetheless, punctured the nationwide sense of euphoria that arose after student-led protests ousted highly effective chief and longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

It has additionally uncovered the restrictions of the interim authorities headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, analysts stated, elevating questions over his grip on governance on the planet’s second-largest attire producer after China.

Hasina’s celebration, the Awami League, which has been barred from the February 12 vote, has threatened unrest that some concern may derail the election itself.

Newspapers, Indian mission focused

Youth chief Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was shot within the head by masked assailants in Dhaka final Friday, December 12, whereas launching his marketing campaign for the elections. He was a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution, and took part within the protests that overthrew Hasina.

Hadi, an outspoken critic of India as effectively, was initially handled at a neighborhood hospital earlier than being flown to Singapore for superior medical care, the place he died after six days on life help.

In Dhaka, movies circulating on social media confirmed mobs vandalizing the workplaces of the nation’s largest day by day newspaper, Prothom Alo, in addition to the Each day Star, on Thursday evening, December 18.

The hearth service stated the blaze on the Each day Star was underneath management. Troops have been deployed to the scene, and firefighters rescued journalists trapped contained in the constructing.

Violence was additionally reported in numerous cities throughout Bangladesh, together with the port metropolis of Chittagong, the place protesters attacked the Indian Assistant Excessive Fee.

The unrest follows contemporary anti-India protests this week, with ties between the neighbors deteriorating since Hasina fled to Delhi. On Wednesday, December 17, tons of of demonstrators marched towards the Indian Excessive Fee in Dhaka, chanting anti-India slogans and demanding Hasina’s return.

Though calm had returned to a lot of the nation on Friday morning, protesters carrying nationwide flags and placards continued demonstrating at Shahbagh in central Dhaka, chanting slogans and vowing to not return till justice was served.

Authorities blames ‘fringe parts’

The interim authorities urged the individuals of Bangladesh to withstand all types of mob violence it stated have been dedicated by a “few fringe parts.”

“This can be a vital second in our nation’s historical past once we are making a historic democratic transition,” it stated in an announcement. “We can not and should not permit it to be derailed by these few who thrive on chaos and reject peace.”

The federal government advised journalists on the Each day Star, Prothom Alo and New Age following the assaults on their workplaces that, “assaults on journalists are assaults on reality itself. We promise you full justice.”

It additionally condemned the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh district, who was crushed and set on fireplace over allegations of blasphemy in an unrelated incident, vowing that these accountable could be delivered to justice.

Impartial rights group Ain O Salish Kendra stated in an announcement that coordinated assaults on media retailers, cultural establishments and historic websites indicated the damaging unfold of extremist and violent thought in Bangladesh.

“This sequence of violence might stay a everlasting disaster for the nation’s human rights state of affairs, democratic area and future generations,” if justice will not be ensured and establishments protected, it stated. – Rappler.com