What led to Hasina’s resignation? Barton noted that Hasina’s 15 years of rule were marred with concerns about election fraud, corruption, nepotism and authoritarian crackdowns. “There generally seemed to be a democratic backsliding. So there were lots of deep-rooted causes for anger, of which the civil service quota was just one,” he said. Barton said … Read more
ESCALATING ACTIVISM So, could the protests escalate into a broader movement for change in the country? Bangladesh does, in fact, have a rich history of student activism that has led to significant political change. One of the most notable examples occurred in 1952 when Pakistani officials announced that the singular national language of Pakistan was … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will evacuate all of its students amid the ‘worrying’ heightened protests in Bangladesh, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said the safety of Malaysian students remains a high priority for the government following the latest developments of the student protests in Bangladesh. “In the initial few days, the situation seems … Read more
“SHOCKING AND UNACCEPTABLE” At least 52 people were killed in the capital on Friday, according to a list drawn up by the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and seen by AFP. Police fire was the cause of more than half of the deaths reported so far this week, based on descriptions given to AFP by hospital … Read more
DHAKA: Bangladeshi students set fire to the country’s state broadcaster on Thursday (Jul 18) as protests against civil service hiring rules escalated, with the death toll mounting to at least 32 and monitors saying a “near-total” internet blackout had been imposed. Police fired with rubber bullets at hundreds of protesters, who fought back and chased retreating officers … Read more
