By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
In Dhaka, students have taken to the streets to direct traffic and maintain order as police go on strike following the popular uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The typically crowded and noisy streets of the Bangladeshi capital are now managed by students and some paramilitary forces, with the police conspicuously absent after weeks of unrest that left hundreds dead. Although an interim government has been promised, it has yet to take office.
The police, fearing for their safety after a brutal crackdown that sparked widespread anger, are avoiding the public eye. This crackdown failed to stop the anti government protests that initially began over civil service job quotas the previous month.
Two days after Hasina fled to India, the situation has calmed, but sporadic looting and violence continue during the power vacuum. Many young Bangladeshis see this as a pivotal moment for the country. Noorjahan Mily, a 21 year old Open University student, expressed her hopes for freedom of expression and an end to corruption, emphasizing the need for people to have the right to protest.
The country is still grappling with the aftermath of the sudden shift in power from its long time ruler. More than 400 people, mostly civilians but also some police officers, were killed during the recent unrest, marking the bloodiest episode since the 1971 war that brought Bangladesh its independence.
At the airport, a worker commented on the dire situation, criticizing the government's excessive use of force. Outside, students in orange vests were managing traffic in the absence of the police. One driver noted the lack of police presence and praised the students for maintaining security.
Julkernayeem Rahat, a business administration student at the University of Asia Pacific, explained that he was helping to direct traffic and protect his peers, having been involved in the initial quota protests that escalated into a larger movement. He expressed optimism about the future under interim leader Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, who he believes will form a government with the help of students and other citizens.
Mahamudul Hassan, another student, emphasized the need for democracy and equal rights for all citizens. Yunus, who was appointed interim leader by Bangladesh's president in response to student demands, is expected to return from surgery in France and be sworn in soon. He has called for an end to violence, warning that further unrest could lead to greater destruction.
During a national address, the army chief expressed confidence in Yunus's ability to guide the country through a democratic process. Despite the challenges ahead, including economic concerns and international debt, many support Yunus's leadership.
The recent events follow a controversial election in January, boycotted by the main opposition, which gave Sheikh Hasina's Awami League a fourth term. Her government, credited with economic reforms but also accused of human rights abuses, has left deep scars. Many Bangladeshis have personal stories of loss and suffering under her rule.
On a flight to Dhaka, a passenger left a note describing how his father was killed and his brother abducted by Hasina's regime. Having lived in exile for eight years for his family's safety, he was returning to what he now considers a free country to visit his father's grave.
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