Page 15 - Protest

Bangladesh protests echo past student uprisings that sparked radical change

In Bangladesh, weeks of protests against a quota system for government jobs turned into a broad uprising that forced the prime minister to flee the country and resign. The demonstrations began peacefully last month and were primarily led by students frustrated with the system that they said favoured those with connections to the ruling party. But it turned violent on July 15 as student protesters clashed with security officials and pro-government activists. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled this week after the unrest during which nearly 300 people died, including both students and police officers. Students or other young people have frequently played pivotal roles in popular uprisings that have brought down governments or forced them to change policies. Here are some other major cases: Gota Go Gama protests in Sri Lanka Like in Bangladesh, widespread protests in Sri Lanka in 2022 were able to bring down a government, and youth played a key role. Scattered demonstrations tu

Bangladeshis welcome new interim govt, hope for restoration of peace

People in Bangladesh have welcomed the new interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, hoping it would restore order, end repression and hold a fair election to facilitate a democratic transition of power. Yunus, 84, on Thursday took oath as the head of an interim government, replacing Sheikh Hasina who abruptly resigned and fled to India leaving the country in turmoil following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. He was sworn in as the chief advisor - a position equivalent to prime minister. Women's rights activist Farida Akhtar, right-wing party Hefazat-e-Islam's deputy chief AFM Khalid Hossain, Grameen Telecom trustee Nurjahan Begum, freedom fighter Sharmeen Murshid, chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Supradip Chakma, Prof Bidhan Ranjan Roy and former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain are among the advisory council members. Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said that one of the

Britain on alert for unrest despite anti-racism campaigners halting protest

British authorities said Thursday they were preparing for the possibility of further unrest, even as they applauded the efforts of anti-racism campaigners and police officers who largely stifled a threatened wave of far-right demonstrations overnight. Prime Minister Keir Starmer sounded the note of caution after a week of anti-immigrant violence that has scarred communities from Northern Ireland to the south coast of England. Starmer spoke to reporters at a mosque in Solihull, near Birmingham, where demonstrators shut down a shopping center on Sunday. It's important that we don't let up here, Starmer said. At an emergency meeting with law enforcement officers at his office, Starmer said on Thursday evening that police need to remain on high alert, Britain's Press Association reported. He credited strategic police staffing and swift justice for rioters in the courts for creating a deterrent that kept trouble at a minimum the night before. Police across the United Kingdom had braced

Chaos continues in B'desh as authorities struggle to control situation

Students carried out traffic management as volunteers for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in Bangladesh, as a top police official called on every member of the police force to resume their duties gradually and maintain law and order. Chaos reigned supreme in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on Monday, with police absent from their duty to keep law and order or manage traffic, local media reports said. Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) A K M Shahidur Rahman, who was appointed as the focal person of the Bangladesh Police on Tuesday to handle the current crisis, called on every member of the police force to resume their duties gradually and maintain public safety and law and order. The students, including members of Bangladesh Scouts, were seen controlling the traffic movement at several places, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. "The police are friends of the people and work for the public. We cannot imagine a society without the police.

Six infants among 205 people evacuated by Air India from B'desh amid unrest

Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo have resumed operations to Bangladesh after briefly cancelling flights amid political unrest in the country

Bangladesh army refused to suppress protest, sealing ex-PM Hasina's fate

The message was clear, the official said: Hasina no longer had the army's support

Racist aggressions plague UK cities: What happened, and what's next?

The violence spread across multiple cities, with rioters targeting public buildings, damaging property, and clashing with police

Bangladesh unrest: A look at other government overthrows by mass protests

Mass protests led Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee in 2022 like Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina, while Egypt also saw mass protests and overthrow of the government in 2011

From iron fist to helicopter exit: The dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule ended as she fled deadly protests, with the military announcing an interim government

UK's worst unrest in 13 yrs: What led to riots; how's govt handling it?

UK riots: While 'far-right' groups are protesting against 'uncontrolled' immigration, asylum seekers are also holding counter-protests

BJP-JD(S) 'Mysuru Chalo' march demanding CM's resignation enters day 4

The combined opposition, BJP and JD(S), on Tuesday continued their protest march, demanding the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam.' The week-long Bengaluru -Mysuru padayatre (foot march) has sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi. The fourth day of the 'Mysuru Chalo' protest began at Nidaghatta near here and is scheduled to cover a distance of 20 km to reach the district headquarters city of Mandya. BJP State President and MLA B Y Vijayendra, former Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Arvind Bellad, several legislators, leaders and workers from both parties took part as the march resumed. A large number of workers and leaders from both parties were seen marching shouting slogans against Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, holding BJP and JD(S)

Sheikh Hasina's resignation sparks hope & fear: What's next for Bangladesh?

As news of Hasina's resignation spread, scenes of jubilation erupted across the streets of Dhaka and other major cities

Violence continues in B'desh; mob storms jail, sets over 500 inmates free

An interim government is expected to be formed soon

People power wins in Bangladesh as Hasina's 15-yr long rule comes to an end

In the last decade Hasina's rule was marked by protests against an increasingly authoritarian regime

Interim govt to be formed after dissolving parliament, says Bangladesh prez

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Monday that an interim government would be formed after dissolving the parliament as he ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases. He made the remarks during a meeting with the leaders of various political parties and civil society representatives at Bangabhaban in the presence of the chief of three forces, the Bengali-language daily Prothom Alo reported. "A decision has been taken to form an interim government as soon as possible by dissolving parliament. The army will also take measures to normalise the prevailing anarchic situation," the president said. The meeting also decided to release Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. President Shahabuddin also ordered the release of all students arrested during the

India-Bangladesh trade headed for uncertainty after Hasina's resignation

Bangladesh is also a key destination for Indian auto exports, alongside African and Latin American countries

Sheikh Hasina quits as Bangladesh PM, flees, lands in India on way to UK

Modi chairs CCS meeting; Indian businesses in Bangladesh on alert

India can't be indifferent, peace in Bangladesh in our interest: Tharoor

Expressing concern over the situation in Bangladesh, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said India cannot afford to be indifferent to the developments and asserted that peace and progress in the neighbouring country is "in our interest". Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and an interim government is taking over, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced in Dhaka on Monday, in a dramatic development amid massive protests against her government that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days. Reacting to the developments in Bangladesh, Tharoor said, "It is very worrying, as you know some 300 lives have been lost since July 1 when the problem started...that has already been a matter of grave concern to all of us." "Bangladesh is our neighbouring country and the people there are our own brothers and sisters or cousins at the very least and what happens there, effects our neighbourhood in a very intimate way. Bangladesh is a country surrounded by .

India will watch developments, work with new govt in Dhaka: Ex-Indian envoy

He said the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, following protests that saw violence, is a major development and there could be a period of uncertainty in Bangladesh

Unstable Bangladesh can add to instability in parts of India: Shringla

Shringla, who also served as a High Commissioner to Bangladesh, emphasised the need to work with all concerned to ensure that India as well as the interests of Bangladesh are secured