Today’s events in the country were foreseen as inevitable. A popular uprising cannot be suppressed indefinitely. The demand for reform in student quotas could have been peacefully resolved. However, due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s obstinacy, significant loss of life ensued.
While media reports depict a grim picture, the true extent of casualties is likely far greater. Many bodies remain unaccounted for, concealed in undisclosed locations. Innocent lives have been lost, leaving the nation to ponder who will be held accountable.
For fifteen years, fair electoral processes were compromised, perpetuating public discontent. Recent events reflect accumulated grievances. Sheikh Hasina and her party failed to recognize their diminishing popularity. Now, who bears responsibility for lives lost and the absence of effective governance? The nation yearns for justice and effective leadership.
During the student protests for quota reform, excessive force was employed, including firing upon demonstrators from helicopters. In contrast, we previously condemned H.M. Ershad as a dictator when six lives were lost during his tenure. Yet, the toll of lives lost in the past fifteen years eclipses that.
In 2009, the BDR mutiny at Pilkhana resulted in the tragic deaths of 57 army officers. Their families await justice and accountability.
The tragic fate of the family of the nation’s founding father serves as a poignant reminder. This suffering arose from arrogance and hubris. I implored the Prime Minister to ensure governance marked by integrity. Such concerns were dismissed as political posturing, deflecting from legitimate grievances. How can the populace be blamed for the upheaval and vandalism at Ganabhaban?
The government failed to heed lessons from Sri Lanka, Tunisia, or the fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt—a stark consequence of governance detached from public sentiment.
Sheikh Hasina’s departure marks a demise far surpassing Ershad’s exit. Ershad did not flee, but she did. In doing so, she precipitated the downfall of Awami League—undermined by envy, arrogance, and pride.
- M Shakhawat Hussain, Former Election Commissioner
