“Until My Death, I’m Bangladesh”

Even though Bangladesh has faded from the news, close monitoring of the situation is crucial for human rights and geopolitics as the country rises from the ashes.

The significance of Eastern and Southeast Asia on the world stage is often understated, with even high-profile regions like Taiwan and China being overshadowed.

In early August 2024, Bangladesh experienced a wave of violent protests that shocked many around the world. While the events quickly disappeared from the news cycle, their socioeconomic implications continue to resonate, and the situation serves as a test case for the future of governance in the region.

The protests stem from long-running resentment over a quota system that saw 56% of government positions in Bangladesh reserved for various groups, including 30% for the descendants of freedom fighters who fought in the 1971 War of Independence.” says Tazreena Sajjad of American University.

In 2018, protests occurred against the quota system as it favored the Prime Minister Hasina’s Awami League Party so she abolished the institution. In June 2024, the highest court in the land found the abolition unconstitutional and July saw proposed salary deductions of faculty at public universities.

…July saw proposed salary deductions of faculty at public universities

(Photo Courtesy of Bangla Tribune)

Student protests against the corrupt government resulted in violence and nearly 100 fatalities, causing the country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. In response, the students called upon Nobel laureate and internationally recognized economist Muhammad Yunus to step in as an advisor, to which the President of Bangladesh conceded. 

While this shift in leadership offers some hope, much could still go wrong, and close monitoring of Bangladesh is crucial. Yunus has suggested he may stay for one to two years to help guide the country toward democratic elections, but many citizens are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of immediate progress. Yunus, though widely respected internationally, faces criticism within Bangladesh due to his limited legitimacy in the eyes of the population. 

While this shift in leadership offers some hope, much could still go wrong, and close monitoring of Bangladesh is crucial. Yunus has suggested he may stay for one to two years to help guide the country toward democratic elections, but many citizens are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of immediate progress. Yunus, though widely respected internally, faces criticism within Bangladesh due to his lack of electoral legitimacy.

As for global intervention, the United States has sent 202 million additional aid dollars to Bangladesh since July. In September, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Yunus where they discussed “the importance of building strong institutions to fight corruption, uphold media freedom, respect internationally recognized labor rights, and protect human rights for all in Bangladesh, including Rohingya refugees and members of minority communities,” says United States Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

United States Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller

(Photo Courtesy of AP Photos)

Particularly concerning is the protection of Bangladesh’s minority communities, with reports of hate crimes targeting the Hindu minority. Despite Yunus’s leadership, critics argue he has not done enough to prevent such attacks, further diminishing his standing among some citizens.

“The military, which in the past has been relatively close to Hasina and [her] Awami League, even initially said some of the right things in support of accountability for those involved in crackdowns and brutality during this past summer’s protests” says Joshua Kurlantzick– a veteran analyst of U.S.-Asia relations and democratization.

The United Nations is stepping in– they are in lock step with the military. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has been tasked with ensuring justice from the July and early August killings of students. 

“But Bangladesh needs far more than reform plans, which it cannot fund itself. It could desperately use something akin to a donor conference, say, organized by Japan (which has led many other such conferences), through which a sizable amount of aid would flow into the country for the caretaker government to use for rebuilding state institutions, preparing the way for elections, reforming the economy, and achieving many other goals” Kurlantzick said.

Bangladesh now faces a precarious situation. With no strong leadership in place, a power vacuum has emerged, allowing extremist elements to gain influence. Between August 4 and 20, the Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council, the country’s largest minority rights group, reported over 2,000 hate crimes, most of which targeted Hindus (BHBCUC Reports 2,010 Attacks in 16 Days, But Grim Reality Remains Underreported). This rise in violence was especially alarming as Durga Puja, a significant Hindu festival, approached, leaving many in the minority community fearful for their safety.