On the night of September 8th, three lives were forever changed in an unthinkable way. Abdullah Al Masud had just become a father to a baby girl – a moment that should have been filled with joy. But within hours, that joy turned into an unimaginable tragedy. Abdullah was killed by an unruly mob when he went out to buy medicine.[i] His daughter, too young to understand, will grow up without ever knowing her father, and his wife, robbed of her partner, will carry the weight of this loss.
A family shattered in moments, and for what? Abdullah was simply a store officer at Rajshahi University Medical Centre.[ii] Yet his past affiliation with the Bangladesh Chhatra (Student) League,[iii] the student wing of the recently ousted ruling Awami League, made him a target in the current climate of mob justice in Bangladesh.
What troubles me most, as a citizen of Bangladesh, is that the current socio-political situation is partly fueled by how the country is being governed at present. After the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, through a student-led mass movement that ended the Awami League’s 15 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, the situation in Bangladesh is characterized by mob justice, volatile law and order, revenge killings of political actors, a deeply fractured society where character assassination on social media is gaining momentum, and the delegitimization of anyone who has supported the Awami League.
On August 7, 2024, an interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Advisor, was formed amid heightened emotions and a lack of police presence at stations.[iv] Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, police stations across the country were attacked by locals in response to the police’s earlier use of heavy weaponry against protesters – this led to a situation where police officers abandoned their posts for safety, creating a vacuum in maintaining law and order in Bangladesh. Despite the situation, Dr. Yunus took more than two weeks to address the nation. By that time, the law and order situation in Bangladesh had deteriorated – unrest persisted; politically motivated cases were filed against former ministers, judges, and journalists; and many heads of educational institutions were forced to resign by students, to name a few incidents.[v]
It feels as though the country is being run by meeting the demands (or threats) of a group of students – specifically the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) group, which is credited with leading the mass movement. The interim government, particularly Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus, is acting as though the demands of the ADSM group represent the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of over 170 million people in Bangladesh.
In fact, the very creation of the interim government was made in response to demands from this group. They threatened that any government other than the one they recommended would not be accepted[vi] – this ultimatum runs counter to the very ideals of democratic practices that the movement claimed to champion. The trend of ‘threat politics’ is gaining momentum, encouraging mob justice.[vii] A student movement leader recently called for the interim government’s resignation if it fails to meet its promises[viii] – yet another instance of this volatile form of politicking.
More troubling is the government’s recent decision to cancel the remaining Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams in response to student protests,[ix] replacing them with an “autopass system,”[x] where grades are determined based on exams students took prior to the mass movement.[xi] This is a major disservice to academic integrity of the examination process and reflects poorly on the government’s ability to move towards a merit-based system. The irony is that the student movement initially began with calls for meritocratic recruitment in public sector jobs.[xii]
The continued glorification of the “revolution led by students,”[xiii] or the ‘young people should lead the way, they should be in charge of the country, not the older generation, they have old ideas, old ways…,’[xiv] narrative, by Dr. Yunus, is counterproductive at this moment. It signals that mob justice and threat politics are acceptable and that almost anything can be achieved through protesting.
Make no mistake: the student quota protest gained momentum and became a mass movement when people from all walks of life joined in solidarity against the killing of students by Bangladesh police and to protest the larger underlying issues of authoritarianism, corruption, and an unresponsive, highly centralized government. Students certainly played a critical role in toppling the authoritarian government. However, that does not automatically mean they are now ambassadors of the rights and freedoms of all the people in Bangladesh, nor does it give them the authority to act however they see fit in the name of correcting past wrongs. This point needs to be made by public intellectuals and senior members of the interim government, particularly Dr. Yunus.
Students need to be reminded that there is much they have yet to learn. Students will act with passion, and that’s a good thing. But it is the elders with wisdom who should guide and support them – not solely be used to legitimize their political actions.
The fractures in Bangladesh are deepening. Bangladesh’s political landscape is now exacerbating societal tensions. The law-and-order situation remains unpredictable, and the rise of mob justice and revenge killings only accelerates this instability. Since the ousting of the Awami League-led government, over 1,000 houses and business establishments of minority communities have been damaged, and 22 houses of worship have been attacked.[xv] Recently, some students of Dhaka University assumed the roles of judge, jury, and executioner, and tortured 35-year-old Tofazzal Hossain to death on suspicion that he had stolen their phones.[xvi] Hossain’s mental health condition had deteriorated after losing his father in 2016, mother in 2019 and elder brother in 2023.
At this point, the country needs visible actions to stop further violence, stabilize, and unite the nation. Nelson Mandela set a precedent for such constructive governance in times of crisis – he famously forgave his oppressors and went on to appoint a racially integrated cabinet, visit the widow of one of the top apartheid leaders, and create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[xvii]
Dr. Yunus needs to stop doubling down on the student heroism narrative[xviii] and the notion that all government institutions are broken[xix] – that the country has hit the reset button and everything from the past is gone.[xx] Making such remarks is not only highly irresponsible but also misleading. These statements will only create further divisions in the country.
The interim government faces an extraordinary opportunity for leadership by breaking away from the undemocratic behavioral patterns of previous party-led governments in Bangladesh, a culture rooted in playing politics of distrust. They need to show through their actions that they are committed to respecting the rule of law, establishing democratic culture and practices in their operations, and re-building government institutions. They need to clearly signal that governing a country is not a reality show nor a PR stunt. Recently, the Advisor to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs went on Facebook Live to announce that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh had resigned, and that his resignation process was fast-tracked.[xxi] Another young advisor held an internal meeting on record in front of journalists. Both actions are unbecoming of a responsible government striving to promote a political culture of trust.
It’s commendable that the interim government has formed ten reform commissions to address corruption and rebuild the country’s electoral system, police administration, judiciary, public administration, constitution, mass media, health, labor rights, and women affairs.[xxii] However, these efforts will be in vain if the country remains deeply divided by polarized political beliefs and structures, and the if the reforms don’t reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh from all walks of life.
The Dr. Yunus-led interim government should focus on prioritizing the hard work of governance that the country needs now: breaking away from undemocratic behaviors in governance, restoring law and order by empowering Bangladesh Police (including recruiting more officers, if necessary), normalizing operations of public institutions in Bangladesh (and especially, ending the culture of forced resignations of public officials), creating a cohesive environment for the next national election, and establishing accountability and transparency mechanisms for the interim government with a clear timeline.
Most importantly, they should begin working toward improving social and political cohesion in the country – shifting the narrative from a politics of distrust to politics of trust. A good starting point would be to hold dialogues with people to understand their hopes, aspirations, pains, and challenges. This effort should have already begun – as it would have signaled a meaningful change in political practice in Bangladesh and better inform the current government on where to focus its reforms. Technocratic reforms will not bring any sustainable changes to the political structure or the democratic culture of the country unless they are coupled with efforts to build bridges among different community groups in Bangladesh and repair trust in public institutions.[xxiii]
Bangladesh is a developing country; it’s not perfect. A lot of work is needed to chart the path forward to becoming a developed country. However, Bangladesh tells a remarkable story of resilience and transformation, from being the second poorest country in the world in 1971 (right after Upper Volta, which is now Burkina Faso) to potentially becoming a new Asian Tiger[xxiv] – a term that typically refers to Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.[xxv] The Dr. Yunus-led interim government represents a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history. This new administration’s governance can either set the stage for a more constructive path toward establishing democracy, or push back the country’s democratic aspirations by another 50 years – if not more.
[i] “Ex-BCL Leader Masud Beaten Dead in Rajshahi. He Lost Leg Earlier | Prothom Alo,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/b9qo0rfh30.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] “Police System Crumbles in Bangladesh,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/189eeaeca450.
[v] “Students in Bangladesh Forced out the Country’s Leader a Month Ago. Where Do Things Stand Now? | AP News,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-student-protests-hasina-yunus-what-now-cb3b0e6a651084f265fbb93dd55530ee.
[vi] Diaa Hadid, “Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Is Returning to Bangladesh to Lead Interim Government,” NPR, August 7, 2024, sec. World, https://www.npr.org/2024/08/07/g-s1-15844/bangladesh-muhammad-yunus-new-government.
[vii] “The State of Mob Justice in Bangladesh | The Daily Star,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/news/the-state-mob-justice-bangladesh-3695721.
[viii] “Hasnat Abdullah Calls for Government Resignation If Promises Not Met,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/357990/hasnat-abdullah-calls-for-government-resignation.
[ix] “HSC Exams Cancelled, Decision on Results Later | Prothom Alo,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://en.prothomalo.com/youth/education/igvzphxx6o.
[x] Maisha Islam Monamee, “Student Protests Auto Pass HSC Exam 2024 | Understanding the Auto-Pass Trap| The Daily Star,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/understanding-the-auto-pass-trap-3682771.
[xi] “‘Auto-Pass Is the Opposite of What Our Students Fought for’ | The Business Standard,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/auto-pass-opposite-what-our-students-fought-922201.
[xii] “What Happened at the Quota-Reform Protests in Bangladesh?,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/what-is-happening-at-the-quota-reform-protests-in-bangladesh/.
[xiii] “Yunus for Placing Youth, Students at Heart of Strategies in Global South | News Flash,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/204316.
[xiv] “This Is the Second Liberation Movement: Yunus | The Business Standard,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/second-liberation-movement-yunus-910416.
[xv] “Communal Violence: 1068 Houses and Business Establishments Attacked | Prothom Alo,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/97chuvmupe.
[xvi] Mashfiq Mizan and Sirajul Islam Rubel, “Tofazzal Hossain Killed At Dhaka University | Savagery at DU: They Beat Him, Fed Him, Then Killed Him,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/savagery-du-they-beat-him-fed-him-then-killed-him-3707351.
[xvii] “Great Leaders Know When to Forgive,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://hbr.org/2013/02/great-leaders-know-when-to?ab=at_art_art_1x4_s01.
[xviii] “Chief Adviser to Highlight Heroism of Student-Led Uprising at UNGA | The Daily Star,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/chief-adviser-highlight-heroism-student-led-uprising-unga-3707931.
[xix] “Yunus: Ex-PM Hasina ‘destroyed’ Bangladesh’s Institutions – DW – 09/11/2024,” dw.com, accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.dw.com/en/yunus-ex-pm-hasina-destroyed-bangladeshs-institutions/a-70193389.
[xx] Anis Ahmed, “VOA Interview: Muhammad Yunus on Restoring Order in Bangladesh,” Voice of America, October 3, 2024, https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-interview-muhammad-yunus-on-restoring-order-in-bangladesh-/7808333.html.
[xxi] “Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Resigns under Pressure as Yunus-Led Interim Government Starts Working | AP News,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/bangladesh-hasina-yunus-student-protest-chief-justice-9b3f6070d35e60e5e4bd9b47d9976690.
[xxii] “Govt Forms 4 More Commissions | The Daily Star,” accessed November 4, 2024, https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/govt-forms-4-more-commissions-3730196.
[xxiii] Robert D. Putnam, Robert Leonardi, and Raffaella Y. Nanetti, Making Democracy Work, Princeton University Press,” June 16, 1994, https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691037387/making-democracy-work.
[xxiv] Jonathan Garber, “There Could Be a New ‘Asian Tiger’. Here’s Why,” World Economic Forum, April 11, 2017, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2017/04/bangladesh-could-be-a-new-asian-tiger-heres-why/.
[xxv] Ibid.