The Bangladeshi Democratic Crisis Vanisha Krishnani (2024-25 Iowa UNA College Ambassador from Drake University
On August 12, 2024, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, called for new parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in response to growing political violence in the country. In addition, he called for full respect for human rights as the country moves to restore democratic rule.
The unravelling of Bangladesh as a democracy began with a peaceful, student-led movement for quota reform. Beginning in March 2018, students from various universities in Bangladesh demonstrated for a reduction in quota-based positions, including the 30 % quota in government jobs provided to the families of freedom fighters who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence. These quotas led to a system believed to be discriminatory by most because it further complicated the pursuit of employment. In October 2018, the government abolished key elements of the employment quota system, including the 30% quotas for the families of freedom fighters.
Anti-government protests began to escalate in 2023 with tens of thousands of Bangladeshis protesting the country’s challenging economic conditions, including cost of living and fuel crises. Violent clashes with the law enforcement agencies led to the death of two protesters and dozens endured severe injuries. It was not just students anymore; people from different walks of life had joined these uprisings as well.
Anti-government protests escalated further in July 2024 following a June 2024 Supreme Court decision declaring that the 2018 decision to eliminate employment quotas for the families of freedom fighters was illegal which led to the reinstatement of these quotas. With the expansion of this movement, came the elevation of death tolls.
Then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, responded with force. The government perpetrated a range of human rights violations, including killing and injuring non-violent protestors, arbitrary arrests, and cutting off the internet. Because of the lack of full access to information, it is difficult to determine the exact cause behind these tremendous death tolls. However, many blame the law enforcement agencies and the Awami League, the ruling party during the period of violence. The protesters were attacked by machetes, live fires, and vehicles being ran over on them.
The Bangladeshi protesters stormed the Prime Minister's residence on the 5th of August 2024. There are multiple videos and images of them joyously celebrating inside her official residence as she had resigned and fled the country by this time. She fled to the neighbouring country India as the two nations maintained good ties with one another. The protesters stole utensils, rugs, and more from her residence in order to commemorate this victory. They believed that this would imply freedom at last.
These celebrations may have come too early as it is yet too soon to say what Bangladesh’s future holds. Despite the challenges and disputes during Sheikh Hasina’s regime, it had actually produced some stability and economic growth. Her resignation and immediate departure has created a political vacuum in Bangladesh. This means that the democracy of the country is more in peril currently than it has ever been. Bangladesh’s army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman has announced that the military shall form an interim government and handle operations until elections can be held. He has also requested the protesters to return home along with an assurance of investigation into the killings.
The current situation leads us to the question, can the Bangladeshi citizens be assured that their nation is in good hands? They have seen this film before and did not like the ending. When Bangladesh was under Pakistan, Bangladeshis were governed under a military regime from 1958 to 1971. This period began under General Ayub Khan and later continued under General Yahya Khan. The brutal nature of this regime was what led to the independence movement for Bangladesh, and it continued to shape political dynamics in the country even after their independence.
Due to the unstable and uncertain nature of the interim government, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, issued his call for parliamentary elections, respect for human rights, and the restoration of democracy in mid-August. In making this call, the Secretary-General stands in full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and their human rights. Similarly, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a statement calling for a “comprehensive, impartial, and transparent investigation into all human rights violations and abuses” as a critical step in restoring peace and democracy. The pursuit of peace in Bangladesh is likely to be complicated by massive flooding affecting millions in the country.
The situation in Bangladesh is of grave importance to the United Nations because the democratic status of a country can be directly correlated to the degree of human rights it possesses. It is also known that the undemocratic nature of one government usually tends to be a threat to international peace and security. While the future of Bangladesh remains hazy, one thing is certainly clear right now- Bangladesh is in a democratic crisis and the UN aims to contribute to its resolution.