In brief
A new wave of violence erupts in Bangladesh as the former PM's supporters clash with student-led protests, leading to significant arrests.
Bangladesh is witnessing a resurgence of violence as students who played a crucial role in the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clash with her supporters. This unrest highlights the ongoing struggles in a nation attempting to stabilize following political upheaval.The turmoil erupted on Wednesday after Hasina's Awami League party announced that she would deliver a virtual address from India, where she has been since her ousting in August. Concerned that her speech could incite further conflict, thousands of students took to the streets, vandalizing and setting ablaze a museum that was once the home of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a key figure in the country's independence.The violent confrontations continued for three days, prompting interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate, to activate “Operation Devil Hunt.” This initiative resulted in law enforcement and paramilitary forces being deployed to restore order. The Awami League has warned of potential protests in response to the students' actions, intensifying the sense of division in the country.Following Hasina's address, which invoked her father's legacy and her government’s accomplishments, confrontations erupted between her supporters and the protesting students in Dhaka. In the wake of these clashes, Yunus called for adherence to the law, claiming that the nation is making efforts to transition from an era of authoritarianism to one governed by legal frameworks.Since the onset of the latest violence, authorities have reported over 1,300 arrests, predominantly of Awami League affiliates, but for now, the situation seems to have calmed. Meanwhile, the interim government is attempting to suppress opposition from Hasina's party, although the Awami League has been rallying their members and planning protests and strikes, accusing the student groups of extremist affiliations reminiscent of the country's independence conflict.
