College students shout slogans throughout a protest demanding the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
Rajib Dhar/AP
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Rajib Dhar/AP
College students shout slogans throughout a protest demanding the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
Rajib Dhar/AP
Earlier this month, pupil protestors stuffed the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, in opposition to a controversial quota system for presidency jobs.
Authorities then cracked down on demonstrators, blocking web entry, imposing a curfew and issuing cops a shoot-on-sight order. In simply over a month, greater than 600 individuals have been killed.
And because the protests escalated, the demonstrations began to change into about way more than simply the quota system, says Shahidul Alam, a photojournalist, author and activist primarily based in Dhaka.
The scholars then started calling for the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The quota actually was the tip of the iceberg. It may have been handled, however as soon as it wasn’t, then the entire tinderbox exploded,” he says.
Unrest continued, and on August 4th, almost 100 individuals have been killed in a police crackdown, inflicting outrage. Only a day later, Hasina was compelled to resign. Quickly after, protestors overran her residence, and he or she fled the nation.
The scholars who ousted Hasina are actually serving to to guide Bangladesh.
“We youth aren’t solely the era of Fb, YouTube and Instagram,” says 19-year-old protestor Mumtahana Munir Mitti.
“We additionally love our nation. And we additionally like to take part in [the] rebuilding of our nation”
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Rebuilding the federal government
Earlier this month, Nahid Islam was a graduate pupil finding out sociology on the College of Dhaka.
Now, he’s main two ministries inside Bangladesh’s interim authorities. At 26 years previous, he serves because the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and IT, and Minister of Info and Broadcasting.
When Hasina was in energy, Islam was arrested. He says he was tortured by the federal government. Now, he feels free.
“Sheikh Hasina’s authorities was an authoritarian and fascist authorities,” he says.
“And now a free second has [been] created in Bangladesh, and I can breathe within the free air of Bangladesh.”
Rebuilding the federal government is difficult work, he says. He says he has been frequently working 16-hour days.
“As a result of within the interim authorities, the members are solely 17 or 18, and there are various ministries. And there are additionally many advisers who additionally need to take two or three ministries.”
And although these working the brand new authorities are younger and lack political expertise, he’s assured the interim authorities represents the individuals of Bangladesh.
“We, the scholars, lead the motion and the revolution. The political forces, current forces of Bangladesh, failed. As a pupil can lead a motion, lead a revolution, a pupil also can type a authorities, also can lead the federal government.”
The way forward for Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s new interim chief is Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. However as a result of the present leaders aren’t elected officers, the federal government shouldn’t be meant to enact new insurance policies.
Nonetheless, Nahid Islam hopes to enact change earlier than the nation holds elections.
“We would like a brand new political settlement, which can pave the way in which for a democratic transition, celebration democracy and rule of regulation.”
Constitutional reform is on the prime of his priorities, Islam says.
“Our structure is one man-centric, and the prime minister has the entire energy…so now we have to reform the structure. Now we have to reform the election commissions and now we have to eradicate corruption. Now we have to reconstruct the nation system and authorities system first, then we are able to go for an election.”
This episode was produced by Jonaki Mehta and Brianna Scott. It was edited by Justine Kenin. NPR worldwide correspondent Diaa Haddid contributed reporting. Our govt producer is Sami Yenigun.
