Bangladesh Protest News Live Updates: Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, the director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), has been relieved from service, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Bangladesh Dhaka Protest News Live Updates, Sheikh Hasina Resigns: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as head of Bangladesh’s interim government, President’s Press Secretary said in a statement on late night. Earlier, in the day the country carried out a major reshuffle in the top positions in the Army, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following deadly protests against her government over a controversial job quota system. Meanwhile, former minister of telecommunication and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and former foreign minister of the Awami League government Hasan Mahmud were detained by airport authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today, as respectively reported by Prothom Alo and Daily English.
What’s happening in India? Following an all-party meeting convened by the Centre earlier in the day, Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha on the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh and said that the government is “monitoring situation with regard to the status of minorities” in the neighbouring country. “The situation in Bangladesh is evolving,” he added, seeking the understanding of the House. A day after the political crisis in Bangladesh took a turn with PM Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country, the situation in Dhaka was largely calm this morning as per local reports.
FOR CONTEXT: Student protestors took to the streets opposing a 30 per cent quota in government jobs for those who fought in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Their protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took a violent turn, claiming over 100 lives on Sunday and another six on Monday.
Bangladesh Protest Live Updates : Who is Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia, the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is set to be released from house arrest following anti-government protests that ousted her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina. Zia, who leads the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been largely absent from politics in recent years due to health issues, including liver disease, diabetes, and heart problems.
Born on August 15, 1945, Zia’s entry into politics was marked by tragedy when her husband, President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in 1981. She took the reins of his conservative party, the BNP, in 1984, vowing to continue his mission of economic liberation for Bangladesh.
Zia’s political career was marked by a significant milestone in 1990 when she joined forces with Hasina to overthrow military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad. Although their alliance was short-lived, Zia went on to win Bangladesh’s first free election in 1991, becoming the country’s first female Prime Minister and the second woman to lead a democratic government in a predominantly Muslim nation, after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.
Bangladesh Protest Live Updates : US condemns violence in Bangladesh
The United States has expressed serious concerns over ongoing violence in Bangladesh, including attacks on religious and political groups. “We are deeply concerned about continued reports of violence,” a State Department spokesperson said, stressing the need for thorough investigations and justice.
The crisis escalated after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned following widespread protests, with over 300 deaths reported. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged the interim government to be democratic and inclusive, praising the military’s restraint and calling for an end to violence.
The Hindu American Foundation reported attacks on Hindu temples, with Anita Joshi emphasizing the need for protection of religious minorities. “We urge local law enforcement to ensure the safety of all religious minorities,” Joshi said. The HAF also called on the US State Department to support Bangladesh’s interim government in safeguarding religious communities.
Bangladesh Protest Live : Key developments in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is facing an escalating political crisis following the dissolution of Parliament and the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of the interim government. The country remains unsettled due to ongoing student protests, with families of victims presenting an 11-point demand to the new administration, which includes rehabilitation and employment opportunities.
Former Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty suggested potential foreign involvement in the crisis, stating that India will “wait and watch” the unfolding events. Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has controversially labeled the protesters as “terrorists” and “militants,” arguing they do not represent a secular democratic force.
Adding to the unrest, former Premier Khaleda Zia, a longtime rival of Hasina, has been released from jail. Meanwhile, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, a state minister from the ousted Awami League government, was detained at Dhaka airport. These developments highlight the complex and volatile political landscape in Bangladesh, characterized by heightened tensions, civil unrest, and allegations of foreign interference.
Bangladesh Protest Live : Who is Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, according to the PTI. Yunus, known as the “Banker to the Poor,” founded Grameen Bank in 1983 after successfully scaling up a local microcredit experiment.
The bank, which provides collateral-free loans, has distributed over $34 billion to nearly 10 million people, achieving a recovery rate of more than 97%, as reported by the Daily Sun last year.
Grameen Bank’s innovative microcredit model has been replicated by banks in over 100 countries worldwide. In 2006, Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to promote economic and social development from the grassroots level. Yunus’s leadership and vision have made significant contributions to alleviating poverty and empowering the underserved.
Bangladesh Protest Live: BNP’s rally at Naya Paltan tomorrow
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to hold a rally in Naya Paltan, Dhaka on Wednesday. BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman will be the chief guest and address the event, reported Prothom Alo.
The party announced the rally in a press release on Tuesday, stating that besides Rahman, several central BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will also speak at the rally.
Bangladesh Protest Live: Muhammad Yunus appointed as head of interim government
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of the interim government, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said in a statement, Prothom Alo reported.
The decision came after a meeting on Tuesday night at Bangabhaban in Dhaka, which included leaders from Students Against Discrimination, the president, the chiefs of the three armed forces, and two Dhaka University professors.
Abedin also stated that additional members of the government will be selected through consultations with various political parties, Prothom Alo reported.
The 13-member team from Students Against Discrimination participated in the meeting, which also included Dhaka University professors Asif Nazrul from the law department and Tanzim Uddin from the IER department.
Bangladesh Protest Live: 24 killed in hotel owned by Awami League leader in Bangladesh
At least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were burnt alive at Zabir International Hotel in Bangladesh after a mob attacked the establishment owned by Shahin Chakkladar, a leader of the Awami League party. This incident occurred following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country, according to local journalists and hospital sources on Tuesday.
The attack, which took place late on Monday night, saw the mob set fire to the hotel in Joshor district, resulting in the deaths of 24 individuals, as confirmed by doctors at Joshor General Hospital. There are concerns that more bodies might be found amidst the debris.
The fire, which started on the hotel’s ground floor, rapidly spread to upper floors. Reports indicate that similar attacks were carried out nationwide, with mobs targeting residences and businesses associated with Awami League leaders and activists, including the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue.
Bangladesh has plunged into chaos following Hasina’s resignation and secretive flight to India, with the military now stepping in to manage the power vacuum.
Bangladesh Protest Live: China Foreign ministry on Hasina’s resignation
China’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its close monitoring of the situation in Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. In a statement, the ministry highlighted China’s role as a “friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner” and conveyed hopes for a swift restoration of social stability in the country.