DHAKA, Bangladesh: On Thursday, Bangladeshi students armed with bamboo rods patrolled the streets to prevent any gathering by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This show of force comes as Hasina, who fled to India last week amid widespread protests, remains absent from the country.
The date is significant as it marks the anniversary of the 1975 assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a pivotal figure in Bangladesh’s history.
Previously, this anniversary saw large rallies across Bangladesh, but the students, who played a role in ending Hasina’s 15-year rule, are determined to prevent any resurgence of her Awami League party. Prominent student leader Sarjis Alam stated their intention to thwart any attempts by the Awami League to create chaos in the name of mourning.
The streets leading to Hasina’s former family home, the site of her father’s assassination, were under tight surveillance by students. The home, once a museum dedicated to Rahman, had been destroyed by a mob shortly after Hasina’s departure.
In her first public statement since leaving Bangladesh, Hasina requested her supporters to honor her father’s memory through floral tributes and prayers at the landmark. Her administration had previously mandated public participation in such commemorations.
The caretaker government that has taken over in Bangladesh canceled the observance of the holiday, and civil servants were required to stay at work. The city, bustling with traffic, was devoid of the usual commemorative events, reflecting the shift in political dynamics.
Additionally, a court in Dhaka has opened a murder case against Hasina, her allies, and several police officers in connection with last month’s unrest, which resulted in over 450 deaths according to police and hospital records. The ongoing investigation into the violence has further complicated the political landscape in Bangladesh.
