The fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising in August was expected to usher in a new era for Bangladesh. Instead, the scars of her repressive regime have sparked cycles of revenge and legal retribution, echoing the tactics she once employed. Journalists accused of supporting Hasina’s regime are under investigation for allegedly facilitating the deaths of protesters. In one case, 700 individuals were implicated in a murder related to the protests, while another saw a sportsman-turned-lawmaker accused despite being abroad during the incident. Beyond the courts, angry mobs have targeted Awami League supporters, with lynchings reported.
The upheaval presents a formidable challenge for Nobel laureate and development economist Muhammad Yunus. Having answered the call of student protesters to lead the country, Yunus is tasked with balancing demands for justice for victims of Hasina’s regime against preventing a descent into violence, threatening his vision of a stable democracy. “This is the new Bangladesh,” Yunus stated in an interview. “We don’t want to copy the old Bangladesh.”
Hasina’s harsh governance left deep wounds. An estimated 1,500 people died in the July protests that began over government job access and escalated into a broader challenge to her authority. Her government’s alleged abuses include using courts to silence opponents, secret detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances. Nearly 1,700 such cases are under review by a commission established under Yunus’s leadership, revealing evidence of extreme brutality, including bodies dumped in rivers with cement weights.
Hasina, who initially championed democratic ideals, became increasingly autocratic during her later years in power. Critics accuse her of leveraging courts to eliminate political rivals, with some sentenced to death. Despite her escape to India following her ouster, she faces potential extradition and prosecution.
Following Hasina’s departure, retaliatory violence claimed over 100 lives, primarily targeting Awami League members and police officials. While the government claims such incidents have subsided, fear remains pervasive among those affiliated with the previous regime.
Firoz Khan, a youth leader linked to the Awami League, was fatally beaten by a mob upon returning to his hometown after months in hiding. His death exemplifies the ongoing vendettas that blur the lines between personal and political grievances. Bangladesh’s Hindu community, historically aligned with Hasina’s secular politics, faces heightened tensions. Religious clashes in Chattogram have sparked fears of increased targeting of minorities, though the government denies systemic threats.
The most common form of reprisal has been the weaponization of legal complaints. Police report over 2,350 cases related to the protest violence, resulting in more than 10,000 arrests. Yunus acknowledges the emotional weight behind these cases but emphasizes the need for fair and selective prosecutions to ensure justice without perpetuating abuses. Prominent figures like journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed have been arrested on accusations of inciting violence during Hasina’s rule. Their detention has drawn criticism from international press freedom advocates, warning against replicating Hasina’s tactics.
The Yunus administration has formed a committee to review charges against journalists and ensure wrongful accusations are dropped. Meanwhile, politically motivated complaints, such as one targeting secular lawyer Zi Khan Panna, highlight ongoing challenges. As Islamist groups gain prominence in the absence of Hasina, the path to a stable democracy remains fraught with tension. Yunus remains resolute, advocating for a fair legal process and a rejection of the cycle of retribution. “Justice, not revenge, must guide us,” he said.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from the Wall Street Journal.