Pt.2 - Can Dictator Sheikh Hasina Survive Student Protests In Bangladesh? | Akash Banerjee & Adwaith

Summary

The Bangladesh student protests against Sheikh Hasina have escalated into a pro-democracy movement, fueled by allegations of police brutality, mass arrests, and unverified death tolls. The government's response to the quota agitation has been met with international criticism, and the students' 9-point demands call for accountability and reforms. Despite the crackdown and Hasina's attempts to discredit the movement, the students remain resolute, seeking a political future free from one-party rule and advocating for democracy and economic stability.

Takeaways

• 🇧🇩 Student protests in Bangladesh have evolved from an anti-quota agitation to a pro-democracy movement against the perceived dictatorial rule of Sheikh Hasina.
• 🏛️ The Supreme Court's decision to remove the 30% quota for freedom fighters sparked widespread protests, which have been met with brutal force by Hasina's police and army.
• 🚨 Over 9000 protesters are in jail, with more than 20,000 injured and an estimated death toll ranging from 200 official to over 1000 according to unofficial reports.
• 💔 Sheikh Hasina has not taken responsibility for the violence, instead blaming others and maintaining a heavy police presence in cities with frequent night raids.
• 📱 The government's crackdown includes arrests for political messages on phones, videos, or the use of VPNs, indicating a broader attempt to suppress dissent.
• 🔒 Despite arrests and torture, students vow to continue their movement until their 9-point demand for democratic reforms and accountability is met.
• 🏫 The student protests are fueled by more than just the quota issue; they reflect a larger concern about the deteriorating economic and job situation in Bangladesh.
• 🌐 Internet bans and media restrictions by Hasina's government have raised suspicions of attempts to hide the death toll and suppress information about the protests.
• 👀 The return of internet access has allowed evidence of police brutality to surface, further inflaming public anger and leading to renewed protests.
• 🏥 The use of pellet guns by the police has resulted in a surge of injuries, with over 500 patients treated for pellet gun injuries in a single hospital in Dhaka.
• 🌍 International criticism, including from the European Union, has targeted the police brutality and called for the punishment of those responsible, with some advocating for Hasina to be taken to the International Criminal Court.

Q & A

What initially triggered the student protests in Bangladesh?

The student protests in Bangladesh initially started as an anti-quota agitation against a 30% quota for freedom fighters, which was later removed by the Supreme Court.

How has the nature of the protests evolved?

The protests have evolved from being an anti-quota agitation to a pro-democracy movement due to the alleged brutality of Sheikh Hasina's government against the protesters.

What is the current status of the number of casualties according to official and unofficial reports?

Officially, 200 people are reported dead, but according to unofficial reports, the death toll could be over 1000, with more than 20,000 injured and over 9000 protesters in jail.

What are the 9-point demands of the students of Bangladesh?

The script does not detail the 9-point demands, but it emphasizes that the students' movement will continue until these demands are met, which now include democracy, accountability, and the removal of the quota system.

Why are students still angry despite the removal of the 30% Freedom Fighter quota by the Supreme Court?

The students are still angry due to the government's response to the protests, including alleged police and military brutality, killings, kidnappings, and torture of student organizers.

What actions have been taken by the government to suppress the protests?

The government has allegedly used police and military force, including shooting protesters, conducting night raids, arresting students with political messages or VPNs, and implementing internet bans.

How has the international community reacted to the situation in Bangladesh?

The European Union has criticized the police brutality and demanded punishment for the culprits, with some efforts to bring Sheikh Hasina to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

What evidence has surfaced regarding the government's actions during the protests?

Video evidence has surfaced showing police brutality, such as the killing of Abu Sayeed, and reports of sniper fire from helicopters in universities, as well as the use of pellet guns causing severe injuries.

What are the allegations against the police and Border Guard Bangladesh during the protests?

There are allegations of the police and Border Guard Bangladesh using excessive force, including shooting unarmed students, executing 'shoot at sight' orders, and using pellet guns, which have resulted in many injuries.

How has Sheikh Hasina's government responded to the allegations of police and military brutality?

Sheikh Hasina's government has not taken responsibility for the alleged atrocities, instead blaming others, calling protesters opposition agents and terrorists, and attempting to discredit the movement.

What is the potential impact of the protests on Bangladesh's political future?

The protests could signify the beginning of the end for Sheikh Hasina's rule, with students potentially becoming a progressive alternative force in Bangladesh's politics, influencing the country's democratic future.

Outlines

00:00

🇧🇩 Student Protests and Hasina's Brutality

The script details the escalation of student protests in Bangladesh from an anti-quota movement to a pro-democracy fight against Sheikh Hasina's regime. It reports on the violent response from the government, including the use of police and military force, leading to a significant number of deaths and injuries. The Supreme Court's removal of a 30% quota for freedom fighters has sparked further outrage. The government's alleged tactics of kidnapping, torture, and mass arrests are highlighted, alongside the discrepancy between official and unofficial death tolls. The students' 9-point demands and their determination to continue the movement despite the crackdown are emphasized.

05:01

🚨 Police and Military's Role in the Protests

This paragraph delves into the government's oppressive measures against the protesters, including the use of snipers, helicopters, and shoot-at-sight orders. It discusses the involvement of the border guard and army, the misuse of UN-marked vehicles, and the heavy use of pellet guns causing severe injuries. The narrative also touches on the international criticism of the police brutality, the European Union's demand for punishment of the culprits, and the potential for Hasina to be taken to the International Criminal Court. The paragraph highlights the government's history of suppressing opposition and dissent, including the treatment of BNP leaders and activists.

10:03

🏛️ Government's Blame Game and Student Resilience

The script describes the government's attempts to discredit the student movement by labeling protesters as opposition agents and terrorists. It outlines the government's actions to ban certain political groups and its claims of infiltration by opposition parties. The students' rebuttals, asserting their independence and the government's misrepresentation, are highlighted. The paragraph also addresses the government's accusations of violence by protesters and the lack of evidence to support these claims. The government's use of propaganda and its response to international criticism, including the internet blackout and allegations of drug use among protesters, are discussed.

15:07

📢 Student Movement's Persistence and 9-Point Demands

This paragraph focuses on the continued determination of the student movement despite the government's attempts to quell it. It outlines the students' 9-point demands, which include accountability for the government's actions, resignations of key ministers and officials, compensation for victims, and guarantees of safety and academic freedom for protesters. The script also discusses the government's handling of the situation, including the arrest and alleged torture of protest coordinators, and the impact of the Supreme Court's decision on the quota reform.

20:09

🌐 Internet's Role and Bangladesh's Political Future

The final paragraph discusses the role of the internet in revealing evidence of police brutality and fueling public anger. It reflects on the potential political implications of the student movement, suggesting that it could lead to a shift in Bangladesh's political landscape. The script contemplates the possibility of the student movement providing an alternative to Hasina's rule and the challenges of finding a progressive alternative in the current political climate. It concludes by highlighting the importance of dialogue, re-evaluation of law enforcement tactics, and economic focus as potential steps for the government to regain trust.

Keywords

💡Protests

Protests refer to public demonstrations against perceived injustices or policies. In the video, protests are the central theme, depicting the student-led demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh, which started as anti-quota agitation and evolved into a pro-democracy movement. The script mentions the brutality of the government's response, leading to a significant number of injuries and deaths among the protesters.

💡Quota System

The quota system in the context of the video refers to a policy of reserving a certain percentage of seats in educational institutions and jobs for specific groups, such as freedom fighters. The script discusses the Supreme Court's decision to remove the 30% quota for freedom fighters, which initially sparked the protests.

💡Dictatorship

Dictatorship is a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler, often with absolute authority and little regard for democratic processes. The script uses the term to describe Sheikh Hasina's rule, accusing her of suppressing dissent, controlling the media, and using violence against protesters to maintain power.

💡Police Brutality

Police brutality encompasses the use of excessive or unwarranted force by law enforcement officers. The video script describes numerous instances of police and military violence against protesters, including shootings, kidnappings, and torture, which have resulted in a large number of casualties.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. The script highlights the students' fight for democratic principles, such as accountability and the right to protest without fear of violence, in response to the authoritarian actions of Hasina's government.

💡Massacre

A massacre is the killing of a large number of people, often indiscriminately. The term is used in the script to describe the government's violent response to the protests, with unofficial reports suggesting that more than 1000 people have died, a figure significantly higher than the official count.

💡9-Point Demands

The 9-point demands refer to a list of conditions put forth by the protesters to address their grievances. The script mentions these demands as a key part of the students' movement, which includes calls for accountability, resignations of certain ministers, and compensation for the victims of the protests.

💡Internet Ban

An internet ban is a government-imposed restriction on access to the internet, often used to control the flow of information. The script discusses the Hasina government's use of internet bans during the protests, which is seen as an attempt to hide the extent of the violence and suppress communication among protesters.

💡Human Rights Violations

Human rights violations are actions that contravene the fundamental rights of individuals. The video script details numerous alleged violations by the Hasina government, including the use of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and torture of protesters, which are central to the narrative of the video.

💡International Criticism

International criticism refers to the disapproval or condemnation from other countries or global organizations. The script mentions that the European Union has criticized the police brutality in Bangladesh and has called for the punishment of those responsible, indicating a broader concern over the government's actions.

💡Economic and Job Situation

The economic and job situation pertains to the state of a country's economy and the availability of employment opportunities. The script suggests that the deteriorating economic conditions and high unemployment rates in Bangladesh are contributing factors to the unrest and the students' dissatisfaction with the government.

Highlights

Student protests against Sheikh Hasina escalate into a pro-democracy movement due to her alleged brutality.

The Supreme Court's removal of the 30% quota for freedom fighters sparks controversy.

Concerns over police and military violence against students, including shootings and kidnappings.

Over 9000 protesters in jail and more than 20,000 injured, with unofficial death toll estimates exceeding 1000.

Sheikh Hasina is accused of not taking responsibility for the violence and blaming others.

Police presence and helicopter patrols are constant in many Bangladeshi cities, instilling fear.

Arrests are made for political messages on phones, videos, or use of VPNs.

Students vow to continue their movement until their 9-point demand is met, despite government actions.

The reasons behind students' anger over the removal of the Freedom Fighter quota are explored.

Evidence against the Hasina police and army's actions during the protests is discussed.

The protests reflect deteriorating economic and job conditions in Bangladesh.

International criticism and calls for Sheikh Hasina to be tried for crimes against humanity.

Reports of children being among the victims of police violence.

Use of UN-marked armored vehicles and pellet guns against protesters, raising international concern.

The government's response to the protests, including accusations and blame-shifting.

Students' 9-point demands, which go beyond the quota issue and call for accountability and reforms.

The impact of the protests on the political future of Bangladesh and the potential for a progressive alternative.

International support for Sheikh Hasina and its implications for the protests and Bangladesh's democracy.

Transcripts

Student protests against Sheikh Hasina are still going on in Bangladesh

The protest which started as anti-quota agitation, is now becoming a pro-democracy movement because of dictator Hasina's brutality

The Supreme Court removed the 30% quota of freedom fighters.

But now the issue is, how can Hasina's police and army of the government shoot students and protesters?

How can they kill students from helicopters?

How can student organizers be kidnapped? How can they be tortured?

More than 9000 protesters are in jail. More than 20,000 are injured.

Officially 200 are dead. But according to unofficial reports, more than 1000 people have died.

And thousands are critically injured.

Sheikh Hasina is not taking the responsibility of this massacre, but blaming others.

Even now, in many cities of Bangladesh, police is present on every corner

You can hear the helicopter's sound at night.

And in the same dark of the night, police raids are carried out on the students' homes.

If a political message is on phone, a video or even a VPN, then arrest is assured.

But even after arrest and police torture, students say that the movement will continue until their 9-point demand is met.

What are these 9-point demands of the students of Bangladesh?

Even after removing 30% Freedom Fighter quota of Supreme Court, why are students so angry?

Forget about step-down, will Sheikh Hasina apologize even once?

What evidence is gathered against the Hasina police and Hasina army ?

Does this protest also show the deteriorating economic and job situation in Bangladesh?

And why do students believe that no matter how much police, army, and media are used..

this month, July, August 2024, is the beginning of the end for Hasina.

According to home minister of Bangladesh, nearly 150 were killed in the protest

Prothom Alo, a reliable media house, says 210 people died

But student organizers and local journalists believe the number could be as high as 1000

Govt is not keeping transparency so people believe this number

Senior journalist Saer Khan tweeted that there are many unidentified bodies buried in the Dhaka rayerbazar intellectual cemetery.

The total count is 67.

This journalist claims that these are the bodies of all student protesters.

We cannot verify this claim independently. And there is no reliability that Bangladesh govt will verify it

But this is not the only claim.

The media and the internet bans of Sheikh Hasina are making people think that this is done to hide the death toll

You will see many such reports on the internet.

Let's take the example of hospitals. They are refusing to give official death reports.

Some people are still missing. And many bodies have been buried without families going to the hospital.

There is a big difference between official records and actual death count. There is no debate on this.

Sheikh Hasina wants that whatever happened, happened. Sheikh Hasina wants to end this matter as soon as possible

So, you may not get to know the real numbers.

But, since the internet has come back to Bangladesh, the evidence of police brutality has been coming out.

And, people are getting more angry.

If you don't know the story of protests in the last two weeks, then we have made an episode on the whole of Bangladesh.

How students of Bangladesh started protesting against an undemocratic freedom fighter quota

Instead of talking to the student, Hasina government tried to be cruel and brutal.

And sent police and army to create terror.

Abu Sayeed became an example, who was brutally killed by the police in front of the camera.

The video evidence is clear that Abu Sayeed did not have any weapon. He was not throwing stones.

An unarmed student was shot at point blank range and killed by police

During a protest near Rampura police station, due to police and Border Guard Bangladesh firing, some youths climbed a nearby building for safety

After some time, police and BGB entered the building.

Youngsters ran away, but one of them got trapped hanging from 4th floor roof

he was trying to escape and the police could have detained him but they shot him at point blank range.

These shoot at sight orders were being executed by the government against its own citizens, against the youth of Bangladesh.

An activist told Al Jazeera that inside the university, a sniper was firing bullets from helicopter.

Just think, in a university, the helicopter of their own country's government, the forces of their own country, are firing bullets.

And the video evidence of helicopter shooting is surfacing.

It is being said that during the curfew, there were shoot at sight orders.

It also happened that, even the children were not spared. The police also shot them.

A report is coming out of 16 such children's death. Not protesters, children.

Unfortunately, not only the police, but also the border guard, and army of Bangladesh, etc. took part in this

News is also that United Nations marked armored vehicles were used to suppress the protest

But UN-marked vehicles are strictly prohibited from being used outside the UN mission.

Pellet guns were also being used heavily. Remember, pellet guns are a cluster ammunition.

Basically, once fired, no one can control how much damage a person will be inflicted. No one has control over this.

And it is very easy to lose eyesight with these pellets.

In the National Institute of Ophthalmology Hospital, NIH in Dhaka, in the last few weeks

more than 500 patients have come with pellet gun injuries.

By the way, I am talking about only one hospital

The question of students here is very simple. How can a democratic government of a free country torture its own citizens?

And after the internet is back, people are watching clips and are very angry.

We are witnessing another round of protests.

People are watching Hasina's actions

European Union has criticized the police brutality and has demanded that the culprits should be punished

trying to take Sheikh Hasina to International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

But this is nothing new for dictator Hasina.

These methods are old for her.

In the last video, we talked about how elections were not free and fair and made one sided

But this was just one example. You can find many examples to show the dictatorial attitude of Sheikh Hasina.

She used her dictator tool kit to make a completely opposition-free Bangladesh

Since 2014, the opposition party BNP's Supremo Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest.

The main opposition BNP's Secretary General says that July 2023 and January 2024, that is, just before the elections,

27,000 BNP leaders and activists were put in jail.

Approximately 10,000 workers were assaulted and 30 opposition workers were killed

Author and activist Mushtaq Ahmed, who criticized Hasina on Covid mismanagement and raised the issue of corruption in the country,

was put in jail under the Cyber Security Act. He was denied bail six times and then one day, Mushtaq died in jail.

In this way, Hasina has silenced her critics and warned others that if they raise their voice, what will happen to them?

In 2018, many school students organized a peaceful rally on the issue of road safety.

They adopted a method of non-violent protests and road blocks.

Even then, Sheikh Hasina's police used tear gas to beat the students.

Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League's Student Front, their members attacked the protesters and journalists.

You can imagine, even on a simple and non-controversial issue like road safety, Shekh Hasina is unable to tolerate debate and criticism.

The students who were protesting in 2018, are now university students

Hasina tried to crack down on their protest against quota in a more horrific way

but this crackdown has now backfired

But don't think that Sheikh Hasina is backing down. No

Her government is playing the blame game. It is not taking responsibility

And is calling the protesters as opposition agents and terrorists

The government says that the student movement was infiltrated by the opposition BNP and the terrorist group

The students were used by the parties as a shield and got police and military attacked.

On this basis, on 1st August, Hasina government has banned Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatrashibir

Hasina believes that Jamaat-e-Islami, Shibir and BNP were attacking Hasina government by using students and trying to bring them down.

Students say that this is wrong. Their movement is independent.

They are trying to discredit the organization as anti-national, terrorist and opposition party driven.

Opposition party is not present in university campuses.

Only one student union is active in the campuses.... Sheikh Hasina's Chhatra League.

So, how can there be infiltration when opposition is finished?

There is no clarity on who attacked the government offices in Dhaka.

It is not right to blame the entire movement without clarity.

But there is video evidence that police shot unarmed students.

But Hasina is only concerned about the metro rail. She is concerned about the government offices being attacked.

She is not particularly worried about the students' life loss.

Government also says that protesters threw students from the building and killed them

And attacked policemen and hanged him with a lamp post. This is a serious accusation.

If this is true and there is any evidence, then a strict investigation should be carried out.

But student protesters deny this. They say that this is a government propaganda to misguide people and discredit them.

So we are also waiting for evidence.

But the way Abu Sayeed was killed, he was killed on point-blank range, The police was very brutal.

If the government had allowed the protest to be democratic, there would have been no violence

and Sheikh Hasina would not have been harmed. But the government did not think like that.

They used helicopters, pellet guns, shoot at sight, internet black out, gave the students union the license to be goons.

After international criticism, the government is saying that it was helpless to take this step.

The government has started giving more statements. This is also an important part of dictatorship.

Bangladesh's Minister for State for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Arafat has said that

the government has not shut down the internet. In fact, protesters burned underwater fiber cables at the spot where cables are

This statement is being taken as a joke in Bangladesh......because lack of internet was the biggest loss for the protesters.

Remember, the internet was shut down during the 2018 road safety protests.

Arafat also said that the unruly elements were given drugs.

That's why the protesters were standing in front of the police because they were high

But firing from helicopter at the university students, that high was not visible to Mr. Arafat.

But the students standing in front of the police without fear, their death, that was visible to them as being high.

Now, Hasina has announced a National Day of Mourning for the victims of violence, vandalism, arson and terrorist activities.

Basically, the violence that Hasina's dictatorial mismanagement did

for that, make student protesters terrorists, blame the opposition, make yourself a victim and then do a memorial service.

Wow! what a fakiri.

To show her innocence, Hasina has also said that UN or any other country can send their experts to Bangladesh

and can investigate, because of so much violence now in Bangladesh, FDI investments will be even less.

On 19th July, Nahid Islam, protest coordinator was picked by plain clothed police

Nahid was blindfolded, handcuffed, tortured and interrogated

On 21 July, an unconscious Nahid is left on the side of a road.

After regaining consciousness, Nahid reaches home. He is taken to the hospital.

After this whole story, on 23rd July, Nahid gave a statement

that the movement is not going to stop.

Nahid was admitted to the hospital. But on 26th July, the detective branch of the Bangladesh Police took him back in custody.

There was a lot of outrage on this that if the government wants to negotiate,

they will have to talk to the protest coordinators, not that the police will take him back in custody and torture him

On 28th July, Nahid and 5 other coordinators who were in the city said they are stopping the protest

because the Supreme Court has fulfilled their quota reform demand, 30% reservation removed

On the same night, other coordinators issued a statement.

And see how much students are not afraid of this Tana Shah.

After bloodshed and mass arrest the government tried to stop movement at gunpoint

We want to say this clearly that the student body will continue the movement until our 9 point demand is met.

We will not compromise and betray the martyr students.

By the way, the judgment on the quota is not that amazing, there is some controversy

as the quota of affirmative action has also been almost abolished.

But now this movement has gone far beyond this quota.

This movement has now become about democracy, accountability and the credit for increasing this protest goes to Sheikh Hasina.

Students' 9 point demand is very simple now.

Hasina should accept her responsibility for this mass killing and atrocities

Home minister, road transport, education minister, law minister should resign

Police officers and vice chancellors must resign

Compensation for students killed and students injured

Arrest police persons who attacked unarmed students

one-party politics should be banned

and educational institutions should be reopened and it should be guaranteed

the student protesters should not face any academic or administrative harassment

So, the protests are on but not at the level that we saw a few weeks ago

Remember, more than 9000 people are still arrested The news is that many have been charged with non-bailable charges.

On top of that, bail bond price has been kept high

So, basically, the idea is to keep everyone in jail.

In most places, curfew is not in force in the morning.

But, the police is heavily armed and people are still being arrested randomly

But despite all this, on 31st July, there was a protest in Chittagong and protests are planned in the coming days.

The peak of these protests has been reached but according to many protestors,

this is the beginning of the end for Sheikh Hasina

Earlier, people used to think that there is no alternative.

Now they are thinking that why is there no alternative in a democratic system?

Why is it that independent voices are being suppressed and opposition-free Bangladesh is being created?

On top of that, the economy is in a bad state. Inflation and unemployment are causing people to suffer.

Earlier, there was a fear that if not for Hasina, Islamist parties like BNP and Jamaat will come to power.

And Bangladesh will be under the grip of fundamentalists, like Pakistan

But this student movement has shown leadership and unity.

And it has raised hope among people that students will not be influenced by other parties.

And it is possible that some of these students will become progressive alternative force in Bangladesh.

So, will students give Bangladesh an alternative political future? Possible.

We have this hope. If not Hasina, then who? What is the option?

This was the slogan in Bangladesh for years.

Now students are saying, Bikolpo Ami, I am the alternate.

Despite this, it won't be easy to find a progressive alternative.

Hasina has international support of India, China, Russia

But, somewhere, July 2024 is going to be a very important chapter for Bangladesh politics

Hasina didn't have to do much. She just had to do a couple of things to win back people's trust.

1. Dialogue between government and protesters.

what is the problem? Sit and talk.

2. Re-evaluation. How are your law enforcement tactics working?

Guarantee students that if they protest peacefully, they will not be shot.

3. The economy of Bangladesh is in a tight spot.

If Hasina has not created jobs, demographic dividend will be useless

So, focus should have been on economy, not on protest.

But, taking these steps, talking, focusing on economy is a very difficult task for a dictator

And, it is possible that after a few days, you will see that everything is normal in Bangladesh from the surface

But it will be difficult for Hasina to win the trust of the people. Especially the young people.

And these young people will decide the political future of Bangladesh. Their political aspirations are just beginning.

And for Hasina, beginning of the end.