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VENO NEWS: OPINION: BANGLADESH UNREST/UPRISING By Sunday Ade Ojo
Date: 06-08-24

Bangladesh is one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia and the world at large. The Muslim-majority nation, once one of the world's poorest, has achieved credible economic success in the last DECADE or so, credit to the now former prime minister, SHEIKH HASINA. The daughter of Sheikh M Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, who led the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and became its first president. Rahman was killed in a military coup in 1975 along with most members of his family. As destiny would have it, Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister did survive...

Hasina, 76, had been in the corridors of power for almost THREE decades. She first became prime minister in 1996 and the iron lady had been at the helm of affairs as PM for 15 years now until her abrupt resignation yesterday due to a popular unrest/uprising in the beautiful country. In recent weeks, Bangladesh has been engulfed in mass protests, initially peaceful and later turned deadly/violent. The protests started over a controversial job quota system but escalated due to the government's harsh response. The nation's capital, Dhaka and its environs became ungovernable and the student-led protests spiralled into deadly, nationwide unrest despite the dawn to dusk curfew imposed by the authorities. In times of revolution/uprising, absolutely NOTHING can stop the dogged determination/resilience of angry people.

TWO years after a mass protest deposed the inept government in Sri Lanka, Bangladeshi people from all walks of the society decided to take their country back, similar to Sri Lanka's, from inept and increasingly authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina. In January this year, Hasina did win a fourth straight term in vote boycotted by the main opposition. The election was rigged/manipulated, not free and fair at all. Peace eludes any country where there is rigging/manipulation of elections. No peace without justice!

Hasina, Bangladesh's longest-serving PM and the longest-serving woman leader (notoriously not a fan of woman leadership) in the world, was supposed to be in her 5-year term in office. Power is transient indeed and nothing lasts forever. The former most powerful woman in Bangladesh used to be a pro-democracy icon who became an autocrat. She has a complicated history. While in the opposition, Hasina was imprisoned several times and survived an assassination attempt which affected her eye. The rest is history as they say. Politicians are the same everywhere on the planet. They are generally dishonest and hypocritical. While in power, there were reports of politically-motivated arrests, disappearances, extra-judicial killings and other abuses. Democrat turned autocrat!

However, on Monday August 5, Sheikh Hasina threw in the towel, resigned as PM of Bangladesh as demanded by the protesters after storming her official residence in Dhaka and fled to India. The end of an era! On the fateful Day alone, 109 people including police officers got killed, at least 300 casualties and counting in the deadly unrest/uprising so far, more than 1000 injured/wounded. Hasina did try desperately to cling on to power, calling for negotiations with the protesters she had earlier called terrorists. One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. A heavy price must be paid for freedom. May the souls of the dead rest in peace. They did die for a just cause. Hopefully, the runaway or fleeing Sheikh Hasina would be able to live with her actions in exile. She has a partner in self-perpetuation in power in the person of Nerandra Modi, the Indian PM. Birds of a feather... Power belongs to the people and no one lives forever.

Now, Bangladesh is in turmoil, uncertainty reigns supreme and the future is bleak. The president of the country has reportedly dissolved the Parliament and ordered the release of ex-PM and opposition leaders. Good start! The army chief takes control of the nation at a crossroads, wants interim government in place but the students, adamant as ever, say they won't accept a military-led government. They prefer a global icon and Nobel Prize Winner, 84-year-old Muhammad Yunus, to head or be the chief adviser to the interim administration. He is the man of the people! Whether or not the military will accept remains to be seen. Again and again, power belongs to God Almighty and the people. Venezuelans should take a clue from events/happenings in Bangladesh.

Oh, Nigeria's situation comes to mind. Can a popular unrest/uprising happen in the uniquely unique giant of Africa? It is doubtful as evidenced in the recent protests against hardship and bad governance in the country. By nature, Nigerians do not want to die and protest like babies, whereas, they are already dead. In comparison, the dire situation in the nation of more than 200 million people is far worse than the Bangladesh's. There is systemic corruption in Nigeria, the epicentre of election rigging/manipulation. Meanwhile, some idiots/lunatics were seen flying the Russian flag in the North of the country. Quite bizarre! Nothing lasts forever.

In conclusion, as the people of Bangladesh grapple with the political uncertainty in the country, the protesters have made history and should not rest on their laurels until their demands are met. For peace and justice to prevail, the president, presently meeting with the military and all stakeholders, must listen to the voice of the people. Sheikh Hasina can go to Nigeria for her retirement. She will be safe there and no one will kidnap her. Wise people leave the stage while the ovation is loudest. God save Bangladesh! The story continues... Peace as always!

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