Bangladesh Protest Live Updates: Bangladesh police return to patrol Dhaka streets

Bangladesh is undergoing a "student-led revolution" following the removal of Premier Sheikh Hasina, according to the country’s new interim leader, Muhammad Yunus. "This is a revolution, a student-led revolution," the Nobel laureate declared at a news briefing on Sunday.

Yunus, 84, returned to Bangladesh from Europe on Thursday after being invited by student leaders who spearheaded the protests that ousted Hasina. He was asked to guide the democratic reforms.

"I told them, 'I respect you and admire what you have accomplished. It is truly unparalleled,'" Yunus recounted. "Because you requested it, I will follow your lead."

In the wake of Hasina’s sudden resignation and flight to India a week ago, several of her key allies also resigned.

Bangladeshi police resumed patrols in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, ending a weeklong strike that had created a law and order vacuum following the sudden removal of former autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After Hasina’s resignation and subsequent departure abroad, which ended her 15-year rule, police had vanished from the streets of the sprawling megacity of 20 million people.

The police had been deeply unpopular due to their role in a brutal crackdown on protests that led to Hasina’s ouster, with over 450 people killed, including 42 officers. They had pledged not to return to work until their safety on duty was assured. However, they agreed to resume their duties following late-night negotiations with the new interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

The interim government of Bangladesh has announced that it will take measures to return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country after violent quota protests, should the law ministry make a formal request. This statement was made by foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain during his first press briefing at the foreign ministry on Sunday, according to a report by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Businesses in Bangladesh are facing a liquidity crunch as the central bank has capped the withdrawal of cash from banks at Tk 2 lakh amidst uncertainty in the country following the fall of the Sheikh Hasin-led government, a media report said on Monday.

The Bangladesh Bank set a cash withdrawal limit of Tk 2 lakh (Rs 1.42 lakh approximately) per account on Saturday, increasing it from the Tk 1 lakh announced earlier.

The central bank decided this due to security concerns as police are yet to return to work fully, following the clashes between police and students during the widespread protests against Hasina's Awami League-led government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Interim Finance and Planning Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday also said that the limit on cash withdrawals was required given the current situation.

Expressing his dismay after vandalised statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex in Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that these acts followed attacks on the Indian cultural center, temples, and Hindu homes in various locations.

Tharoor called upon Muhammad Yunus and his interim government to take immediate action to restore law and order for the benefit of all Bangladeshis, regardless of their faith.

Law enforcement personnel in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, returned to their duties on Monday following a seven-day absence that created a void in security after the sudden removal of the former dictatorial leader, Sheikh Hasina.

The city, home to 20 million residents, saw a complete withdrawal of police presence last week when Hasina resigned and left the country, concluding her 15-year tenure. During the weeks of demonstrations that led to her removal, police were despised for leading a deadly suppression, resulting in the deaths of more than 450 individuals, including 42 officers.

The police had pledged to refrain from resuming their duties until their safety while on the job was assured. However, they agreed to return following late-night discussions with the newly formed interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus.

Sakhawat Hossain, the newly appointed home minister of Bangladesh, addressed reporters on Monday, stating that the current interim government has no plans to prohibit the Awami League party, which was led by the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hossain acknowledged the party's significant role in the country's history, saying, "The party has made many contributions to Bangladesh -- we don't deny this." He encouraged the Awami League to participate in the upcoming elections, adding, "When the election comes, (they should) contest the elections."

The minister's statements suggest that despite the recent political upheaval and the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, the interim government is committed to maintaining a fair and inclusive electoral process, allowing all parties, including the Awami League, to take part in the forthcoming elections.

Bangladesh’s leader Muhammad Yunus has been acquitted in a graft case filed by the nation’s Anti-Corruption Commission, just days after he was sworn in to run an interim government following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

A special court in Dhaka acquitted the Nobel Prize-winning economist along with 13 other people, The Daily Star reported on Sunday, citing an official with the anti-graft commission. If he was found guilty of money laundering in that case, Yunus faced the risk of life imprisonment.

A day before he was sworn in as the chief adviser to the interim government with prime ministerial powers, Yunus was acquitted in a labor violation case in which he had been sentenced to six months in jail. Human rights lawyers have described both cases as politically motivated.

Md Touhid Hossain, the Foreign Affairs Advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, emphasized the significance of maintaining equilibrium with 'big powers' as the nation embarks on a new governmental era, according to the Dhaka Tribune, a Bangladesh-based daily newspaper.

On Friday, Hossain stressed the importance of Bangladesh fostering positive relationships with all nations, the Dhaka Tribune reported. "We want to keep good relations with all. We need to maintain a balance of relations with the big countries," he was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.

The Foreign Affairs Advisor further stated that the interim government's primary focus is on reestablishing law and order within the country, and once this initial objective is met, other matters will be addressed, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

In a related development, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, expressed on Thursday the United States' hope that Bangladesh's new interim government will lay the groundwork for a democratic future.

The Border Security Force (BSF) troops, in a coordinated effort with the Meghalaya Police, successfully detained seven Bangladeshi citizens and two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint, according to a BSF statement released on Sunday. The operation was meticulously planned and executed.

The BSF Meghalaya has evaluated the security situation along the Indo-Bangladesh border in light of the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh and has increased vigilance by implementing a multi-tier dominance approach.
"All the apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants with Indian facilitators were handed over to the concerned police station for further disposal and legal action," the BSF added.

In a separate incident, the BSF recently apprehended two smugglers and confiscated cattle and phenedyl bottles during an operation at the international border. Furthermore, the BSF also captured 11 Bangladeshi nationals who were trying to illegally enter India—two each from the borders of Bengal and Tripura, and seven from the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.

Muhammad Yunus was acquitted Sunday in a second legal case since taking over as chief advisor of the interim govt in Bangladesh Thursday, reports AKM Moinuddin. Yunus, along with 13 others, was charged by the nation’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) on June 12 for the alleged misappropriation of about Bangladeshi taka 25.22 crore from Grameen Telecom workers’ profit participation funds. Recently, ACC sought the withdrawal of prosecution in the case, leading to Yunus and the others being acquitted by a special court in Dhaka this weekend.

The interim govt warned media outlets Sunday that any attempt at flattery or misinformation instead of publishing or broadcasting the truth could lead to them being shut down. “Shame on you, shame on the media owners… you did not tell the truth,” home affairs adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said, alluding to the alleged suppression of truth about how the country was being run for years. He said he wouldn’t recommend the closure of any media outlet “for what they did in the past”, but declared this wouldn’t be allowed during the tenure of the interim govt. “You know me,” the former military officer said. He criticised the “approach” of journalists while asking questions of the erstwhile govt, saying that “a nation falters when the media does not uphold the truth”.

M Sakhawat Hussain, the retired military officer heading home affairs in Bangladesh’s interim govt, acknowledged Sunday that the country’s police force was “demoralised” and currently unable to operate in the manner required to stem the surge in violence and looting in parts of the country.

“Restoring law and order remains the interim govt’s priority, but a state cannot run like this. The politics of a state cannot go on like this. The state is not anyone’s personal property,” he said of the continuing lawlessness that has paralysed economic activity. Brig Gen (retd) Hussain urged people to cooperate with police, saying a society couldn’t function without them.

Newly appointed IGP Md Mainul Islam said at least 42 police personnel were killed and many injured in clashes during the student-led upheaval that led to ex-PM Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country. Three of the dead were officers of the rank of inspector. Although 599 of the country’s 639 police stations pa rtially resumed operations Sunday, they are all hamstrung by ashortage of personnel. A senior police officer said he and his colleagues were traumatised by what happened and feared returning to work. Many are undecided about whether to remain in the police force, he said.

A letter allegedly from Bangladeshi ex-PM Sheikh Hasina is circulating among Awami League supporters, suggesting that her ouster from 15 years in office was the result of pressure from the US regarding the strategically important St Martin’s Island.
The letter, which has gained traction despite the absence of official confirmation, attributes her removal to her refusal to cede control of the island in the Bay of Bengal to Washington. The island’s importance is linked to the US’s interest in countering China’s influence in the Indian Ocean. “I could have remained in power if I had left St Martin’s and the Bay of Bengal to America,” the letter says.
The message echoed the ousted PM’s long-standing stand against foreign intervention in Bangladesh’s sovereignty, according to a party activist currently abroad. Last year, Hasina had said, “I don't want to return to power by leasing out St Martin’s Island”, during a press conference following her visits to Switzerland and Qatar.

Eleven individuals from Bangladesh were arrested for illegal entry into India, intercepted at the West Bengal, Tripura, and Meghalaya borders by the Border Security Force. They will be handed over to state police for further legal action. BSF has recently prevented several infiltration attempts, sending back numerous Bangladeshis with the help of Border Guard Bangladesh.

The Politburo of the CPI(M) on Sunday expressed concern over the attacks on Hindu places of worship in Bangladesh, and demanded that the country's interim government ensure safety of minorities. The CPI(M) Politburo also said the Government of India must pursue this matter with Bangladesh.

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its serious concern at the reports of several attacks on Hindu places of worship and the minority community in Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government," the CPI(M) said in a statement.

"It is evident that fundamentalist forces are targeting the minority community in the wake of the chaotic situation which developed consequent to the fall of the government," they said.

Thousands of Canadians staged a protest on Sunday across downtown Toronto to stand in solidarity against the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

Canadians of Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish origin gathered in Downtown Toronto.

People in the protest held in Downtown Toronto were seen chanting, "We want justice - Bangladesh Bangladesh".

The protesters urged the Canadian Government to press the Dhaka Government to protect Hindus in Bangladesh.

One of the protesters lamented that they also sent emails to the Bangladeshi mosques in Toronto, but they have not responded yet.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Sunday recently thanked the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring his mother's safety during the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh. While acknowledging that mistakes were made during Hasina's tenure, Joy said that the blame should not be placed solely on his mother.He also said that Hasina, now 76 years old, had intended for this to be her final term in office and expressed uncertainty about her ability to return home.

Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as the new chief justice of Bangladesh on Sunday, following the resignation of his predecessor, Obaidul Hassan, and five other judges from the Appellate Division the previous day. The ceremony took place at the Darbar Hall, located within the official residence of the president.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin presided over the oath-taking ceremony, administering the oath to Chief Justice Ahmed. The event was attended by Professor Muhammad Yunus, who currently serves as the chief adviser and leads the interim government that was established after the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office.

Salehuddin Ahmed, the newly appointed finance and planning adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, has stated that the immediate priority is to revitalize the economy and prevent it from stagnating. Ahmed, a former governor of Bangladesh Bank, was given the responsibility of overseeing the finance and planning ministries by interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who announced the portfolios of his 16-member council of advisors on Friday.

The interim government was established following the collapse of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina on August 5, which was triggered by widespread protests against her administration's controversial quota system in employment.

In his first interaction with reporters since taking office on Saturday, Ahmed emphasized the government's focus on restoring public trust in banks and resuming the operations of the central bank. "Then we'll work on bringing reforms," he said, as reported by the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Ahmed acknowledged the economic slowdown in the country, stating, "For various reasons, the country's economy has slowed down. Our goal will be to revive the economy as quickly as possible. Once the economy comes to a standstill, it becomes quite difficult to restart it. We do not want it to come to a halt."

He further highlighted the multifaceted challenges facing the economy, including issues in the banking sector, inflation, and other complexities. "There are various problems in the economy. There are issues with the banking sector, inflation, and many other complexities. We will need to work on all fronts," Ahmed said, as quoted by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper.

Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that there have been no reports of Bangladeshis entering the coastal state via the sea route following the recent unrest in Bangladesh. He emphasized that any Bangladeshis residing illegally in Odisha will be identified and sent back to their country.

According to the police, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Odisha Marine Police are maintaining a three-tier security system along the state's coastline.

In response to questions from reporters about the possibility of an influx from Bangladesh through the sea route due to the current political situation in the neighboring country, Harichandan said, "Some Bangladeshis have been residing in Odisha for a long time. The state government will verify their documents such as visa and work permit or any other valid reason to stay in the state. Illegal infiltrators will be sent back to their country after verification." He mentioned that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed both the Coast Guard and Odisha Marine Police to conduct patrols along the coastline to prevent such attempts.

The Odisha Police confirmed that the state's 480-km-long coastline is under the surveillance of a three-tier security system. Harichandan reiterated that there have been no reports of an influx from Bangladesh following the recent incidents in the country.

The Assam Police is maintaining a heightened state of vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border to prevent any unauthorized entry into the state amidst the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh, according to a senior official. The central government has issued an order mandating that no individual be permitted to enter India illegally from Bangladesh, as stated by Director General of Police G P Singh.
''The BSF is the first line of defence along the border and the Assam Police as the second line is also on a high alert," Singh informed reporters during a book launch event on Saturday.

However, an exception has been made for Indian passport holders, primarily students and traders, who will be granted entry upon verification of their valid documents, the DGP clarified.
Furthermore, the central government has issued another directive stipulating that Bangladeshi citizens will be accompanied back to their country after thorough verification of their passports and visas via a secure corridor, he added.

''Besides these movements, there has been no entry of any person to the state... the Assam Police are conducting joint patrolling with the BSF,'' he mentioned.

Regarding the upcoming Independence Day celebrations in Assam, the DGP assured that sufficient measures have been implemented to ensure robust security throughout the state, with Superintendents of Police instructed to enhance security at parade grounds. (PTI)

A large number of demonstrators gathered in front of the White House in Washington to protest against the reported violence targeting minority Hindus and other groups in Bangladesh following the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the week.

The protesters, who came from various parts of the country, including Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and New York, carried American and Bangladeshi flags and displayed posters calling for the protection of Bangladeshi minorities. They chanted slogans such as "We want justice" and appealed for peace amidst the recent escalation of violence. The crowd consisted of activists from various human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, and Indian-American Hindu allies.

The demonstrators sought the intervention of Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist who took charge of a caretaker administration on Thursday. Shubho Roy, a Bangladeshi Hindu with family in Bangladesh, expressed his concern over the situation and emphasized the need for a lasting solution to ensure the safety and dignity of minorities in Bangladesh. "We need a permanent solution so that Hindus and other minorities can live with dignity in Bangladesh," Roy told ANI.

Roy also shed light on the hardships faced by Hindus in Bangladesh who had been forced to leave their homeland after enduring years of systematic violence, discrimination, and oppression. Standing before the symbol of American power, they demanded that the world acknowledge the atrocities they had left behind. Roy added, "We were pushed away from Mahabharat (India), Akhil Bharat, Akhand Bharat. We were never a part of Pakistan. We were framed and pushed away from India."

Five Bangladeshi refugees residing at relief camps in Sindhanur taluk of Karnataka’s Raichur district have been granted Indian citizenship under CAA—the first such instance in the state, reports Chamaraj Savadi.

Those granted citizenship are Ramakrishnan Abhikari, Advith, Sukumar, Bipradas Golder and Jayant Mandal from rehabilitation camps. Till date, 146 Bangladeshi refugees in camps have submitted online applications under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Prominent Hindu seer Avdheshanand Giri on Saturday condemned the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and asked the UN, human rights organisations and the interim government in the neighbouring country to come to their rescue.

"Hindus are being identified and attacked in Bangladesh, their temples and houses are being vandalised and set on fire. Hindu girls are being subjected to inhuman treatment. It has angered Hindus all over the world," Joona Akhada's Acharya Mahanandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri said.

The Hindu society everywhere talks about the welfare of all and always extends a helping hand to everyone, he said.

"Wherever there are Hindus in the world, they talk about progress and development. Hindus in Bangladesh have played the most important role in its development. Targeted attacks against them are very wrong," he added.

The United Nations (UN), International Human Rights Organization as well as the interim government of Bangladesh should take the strictest steps and provide security to the Hindu community in Bangladesh, he said.

India is ready to protect the honour of Bangladeshi Hindu refugees and the strategy of the Indian government in the matter is commendable, he added. (PTI)

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus appealed for religious unity Saturday after embracing the weeping mother of a student shot dead by police, a flashpoint in mass protests that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.

Nobel laureate Yunus, 84, returned from Europe this week to helm a temporary administration facing the monumental challenge of ending disorder and enacting democratic reforms.

"Our responsibility is to build a new Bangladesh," he told reporters. (AFP)

Members of a Hindu right wing outfit assaulted a group of people living near a railway station here and destroyed their shanties, claiming that they were Bangladeshi infiltrators, police said on Saturday. Bhupendra Chowdhary, the president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, and Badal alias Hariom Singh were arrested in connection with the case late Saturday, they said.
Officials said that those attacked are not Bangladeshis and an FIR had been lodged against Chowdhary, also known as 'Pinky,' and 20 others for rioting, hurting religious feelings and other offences.

Some of the residents were injured in the incident that occurred around 7.30 pm on Friday, they said.

Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra told PTI, "Those living in the shanties are from Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh), not Bangladesh."

"The police are contemplating invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against the attackers in the case," Mishra added. (PTI)

The Assam Police is on a high alert along the India-Bangladesh border to ensure that no person can enter the state illegally in view of the unrest in the neighbouring country, a top officer said on Saturday. The Centre has issued a directive that no person will be allowed to enter India from Bangladesh illegally, Director General of Police G P Singh said.

"The BSF is the first line of defence along the border and the Assam Police as the second line is also on a high alert," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a book launch here.

''There is, however, a rider that Indian passport holders, mostly students and traders, will be allowed to enter if their documents are found valid after due verification," the DGP said. (PTI)

A group of Bangladeshi people tried to enter through the international border along Assam's Dhubri district, an official said on Saturday, adding the vigilant BSF troopers pushed them back to their own territory, foiling an infiltration attempt.

According to an official, a group of seven persons on Saturday morning crossed the international border and "almost" reached the India-Bangladesh boundary fencing at Bhogdanga village in Dhubri district.

"A group of seven people almost reached the Indian side near Bhogdanga village. The BSF troops present on duty pushed them back through mutual understanding. The group then turned back and returned to Bangladesh territory," the official added.

"Bhogdanga and Faushkarkuti villages are located in strategic locations along the India-Bangladesh border. These villages are surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides.

The official mentioned that the group of Bangladeshi nationals came from Nageshwari Upazila in the Kurigram district in the neighbouring country.

The situation is under control and the security arrangements have been beefed up, the official further said. (IANS)