Bangladesh remains in turmoil as student-led protests have forced the resignation of several key officials, including the country’s chief justice and central bank governor. The unrest has also sparked massive protests by the minority Hindu community, who have become targets of the ongoing violence.
Thousands of Hindus on Saturday protested in Dhaka and Chittagong demanding security and justice following a series of attacks on their temples, homes and businesses.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus condemned the attacks on minorities, calling them “heinous” and reiterated that restoring law and order was the top priority.
Here are the major developments in the Bangladesh crisis:
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The law and order situation in Bangladesh remains fragile, several Hindu temples, houses and business establishments have been vandalised and at least two Hindu leaders have been killed since Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister and fled to India.
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Members of the Hindu community facing attacks have taken to the streets demanding the formation of special tribunals to expedite trials against those who perpetrate atrocities on minorities. They also demanded allocation of 10 percent seats in Parliament for minorities and implementation of the Minority Protection Act.
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Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the newly formed caretaker government, condemned the attacks on minority communities and urged the youth to protect them. He said, “You are capable of saving the country; can’t you save a few families? … They are my brothers; we have fought together and we will remain together.”
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The political crisis has forced several top officials to step down. Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan, appointed last year and considered a Hasina loyalist, was forced to resign on Saturday after students surrounded the Supreme Court in Dhaka and threatened “dire consequences”.
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Central bank governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar also resigned amid the turmoil, though his resignation has not yet been accepted. ASM Maqsud Kamal, vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, where the student protests began, resigned from his post, Reuters reported.