DHAKA (Reuters) – On Thursday, thousands of students gathered across Bangladesh to commemorate one month since the downfall of long-standing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following a wave of violent protests.
The “March for Martyrs,” attended by students, workers, and families of those who lost their lives in the unrest, saw participants carrying the national flag and chanting slogans like “Blood of the martyrs is our power.” What began in July as a student-led protest against public sector job quotas quickly escalated into a nationwide uprising against Hasina’s government.
The unrest, which claimed over 1,000 lives, culminated in Hasina’s resignation and her subsequent flight to India on August 5, just before protesters stormed her official residence. Violent clashes persisted for several days following her departure. An interim government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has since taken charge, tasked with restoring peace after the bloodiest episode in Bangladesh’s history since its 1971 independence. The interim administration’s mandate includes implementing key reforms and organizing fresh parliamentary elections.
Amir Ali, whose son was killed during the protests, said, “My son’s name never made it to the official list of martyrs. I’m here today to honor his memory and the victory his death represents.” He added, “They called us here to remember the martyrs.”
Nahid Islam, 26, one of the main organizers of the protests and now a member of Yunus’ cabinet, expressed hope for the future: “We’ve gained a new Bangladesh through their sacrifice. We live for them. Freedom of speech has returned.”
Thursday also saw the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal amid a series of sweeping changes within the government. The reshuffle has led to the removal of several high-ranking officials, including the chief justice, central bank governor, and police chief, all of whom played roles in the crackdown on the student movement.
Last Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Office announced plans to send a fact-finding mission to Bangladesh at the request of the interim government. The mission aims to investigate the alleged human rights abuses committed during the recent deadly clashes.
