After the resignation: Protesters: Nobel Prize winner should rule Bangladesh

Following the resignation of the long-serving and increasingly autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is facing uncertain times. According to observers, power in the country with the second largest textile industry in the world currently lies with the army. Parliament has been dissolved. And according to student leader Nahid Islam, the demonstrators want Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus to lead a transitional government. It is to remain in power until new elections are announced. It is unclear when this will happen. BBC Bangla quoted a spokeswoman for Yunus as saying that the Nobel Prize winner is ready for this role.

“Yunus is seen by the students as an independent man who can best represent the interests of the people,” Bangladesh expert Thomas Kean from the non-governmental Crisis Group told the German Press Agency. Yunus and his Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for helping many people escape poverty by providing small loans. According to Kean, there is a good chance that the military will listen to the students. They have greater legitimacy than the parties, which are seen as part of an old political system. And the military itself, he says, shows little interest in retaining power itself.

Relative calm after violence

After weeks of demonstrations, which reached a climax on Monday with the storming of Prime Minister Hasina’s palace and her flight abroad, the situation on the streets of the capital Dhaka was mostly calm in the morning. A curfew imposed by Hasina was lifted. However, there were only a few people on the streets – also out of concern that there could be renewed clashes.

According to reports, further violence broke out the night before. More than a hundred people were killed across the country, local media reported, citing local authorities among others. The victims were said to be mainly Hasina’s followers. Protesters also reportedly stormed and looted the homes of members of Hasina’s Awami League.

Former Prime Minister released from house arrest

Hasina has been head of government for the past 15 years without interruption. Human rights organizations accused her of targeting critics. Thousands were arrested. “One reason for the broad support for the protest movement is the fact that the country has not seen elections with real competition for 15 years,” explained expert Kean. The current crisis is an opportunity to lead the country back towards real democracy. He also hopes for reforms.

Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s office announced that former Prime Minister and Hasina’s political rival Khaleda Zia was free after years under house arrest – just days before her 79th birthday. She was initially imprisoned in 2018 after allegations of embezzling funds intended for orphans. She was later placed under house arrest. It was also announced that demonstrators arrested during the protests would be released. According to local media reports, more than ten thousand people have been arrested in recent weeks.

In the protests since July, students initially criticised the planned reintroduction of a controversial quota system for public sector jobs, which was later reversed by the Supreme Court. But even after that, the unrest spread.

More and more population groups demanded Hasina’s resignation. The head of government tried to suppress the protests with all her might. She ordered curfews, temporarily blocked the Internet and sent police and army across the country. According to local media reports, more than 300 people were killed in clashes with demonstrators.

“Hasina sealed her fate when she decided to respond to the protests with brutality and arrogance rather than engaging in serious dialogue with the protest leaders,” said Crisis Group expert Kean.