Breakdown in law and order has remained a feature in Bangladesh since the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina collapsed on August 5 as the country has not been able to restore the policing system . File.
| Photo Credit: PTI

In a setback to the inter-ethnic harmony, more than one hundred houses and shops belonging to indigenous communities were burnt down by miscreants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in the southeastern part of Bangladesh. Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), a human rights group based here that tracks the community situation in CHT has said the attack was carried out in multiple locations and said such a large scale assault on the indigenous community has taken place for the first time since 2007.

Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) accused the Bangladesh Army of providing tacit support to the attackers whom he described as “illegal plain settlers”. “Consequently, there is no Chakma left in the Dighinala sadar area. We are still waiting for details of casualties or other violence at this stage,” Mr. Chakma said.

Breakdown in law and order has remained a feature in Bangladesh since the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina collapsed on August 5 as the country has not been able to restore the policing system in the meantime. Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. Jehangir Alam Choudhury (Retd.) on Wednesday said that those policemen who failed to rejoin position will not be allowed to join work. “They were involved in misdeeds,” Mr. Choudhury said. In this challenging backdrop, the Bangladesh Army on September 17 took over magisterial power across the country which will allow the army to carry out policing functions. Mr. Chakma said the condition in CHT has remained volatile despite the army taking over magisterial power and pointed out that witnesses have reported that the army was seen to be supporting the “settlers” in carrying out the arson attack on Thursday.

Indigenous Chakma groups have been alleging that a systematic military-led process took place during 1979 to 1983 to facilitate influx of at least 5,00,000 “plains settlers” into the CHT.

Mr. Chakma said that influx had reduced the rights of the indigenous people of the region over their own land. The law and order situation in CHT had been deteriorating over the past few weeks with reports of sporadic violence coming in. In this backdrop local students under the banner of Sanghat O Boishamyo Birodhi Pahari Chhatra Andolan (Hill Students Movement against Conflict and Discrimination) took out a big rally on Wednesday. RRAG informed that at least one individual – Lenin Chakma, 35, of Kamukkochara, Tulapara were killed during Thursday’s attack and that his body was taken away by the Bangladesh army. CHT has been a restive part of Bangladesh because of the ethnic composition of the region which has complained of discrimination by Dhaka. Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was signed on December 2, 1997, between Parbatyo Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the Government of Bangladesh during the first tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina which recognized the distinct identity of the indigenous communities of the region. The agreement however came under criticism in the subsequent years for not sufficiently addressing the concerns of the indigenous community.

The delegation of magisterial powers to the Army will allow the Army to carry out police and jail related functions as well as the task of executive magistrates. File.
| Photo Credit: AP

The interim government of Bangladesh on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) granted magisterial and policing powers to the Bangladesh Army. An order issued by the Ministry of Public Administration announced the Bangladesh Army will exercise the granted powers for the next sixty days. 

The order is being interpreted as a step that will give greater responsibility to the Army in executing administrative and policing responsibilities across Bangladesh. The order issued by the Ministry of Public Administration did not specify if it would be applicable at the level of the districts and mentioned that the instruction is applicable in “entire Bangladesh”. 

Also read | Instability and uncertainty stalk Bangladesh

Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz Zaman had taken charge briefly after PM Sheikh Hasina fled the country and took refuge in India. He however took a back seat with the swearing in ceremony of the interim government on August 7. The delegation of magisterial powers to the Army will allow the Army to carry out police and jail related functions as well as the task of executive magistrates. 

Policing in Bangladesh has been severely impacted since the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 as the fall of the government rendered the police vulnerable to retribution from the masses because of the role of the police in the crackdown against the anti- Hasina protesters.

The interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus took charge on 7 August but has faced continuous law and order challenges ever since and Tuesday’s step is expected to curb some of the volatility and lawlessness witnessed in the districts in the last four weeks. 

Tuesday’s announcement about the army getting policing responsibilities coincided with a major show of strength by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka where its leaders said they would not undermine the interim government.

New Delhi:

In a key address to diplomats in Dhaka on Sunday, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, called for comprehensive reforms before holding the next general elections. This meeting marked Mr Yunus’ first engagement with the diplomatic community since assuming office on August 8, following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mr Yunus, a Nobel laureate, took charge amid a volatile political landscape that saw mass protests and violence resulting in the ousting of Ms Hasina. In his address, Yunus outlined the interim government’s roadmap for a stable and democratic Bangladesh, starting with a free, fair, and participatory election.

“We will hold a free, fair participatory election as soon as we can complete our mandate to carry out vital reforms in our election commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and media,” he told diplomats, including India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma.

Restoring Normalcy 

On August 5, Ms Hasina, aged 76, fled Bangladesh by helicopter to India as protesters overran the streets of Dhaka. Her 15-year rule, marked by allegations of human rights abuses, came to a dramatic end. The weeks leading up to her ousting were bloody, with more than 450 dying during the unrest and several reports of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community.

The Chief Adviser said restoring law and order in the country is a top priority for his government. “We will be close to normalcy within a short period, with the unwavering support of our people and patriotic armed forces,” Mr Yunus said. “The top priority of the Interim Government would be to bring the law and order situation under control…The armed forces will continue to serve in aid of civil power as long as the situation warrants.”

Reviving Economy 

In addition to political reforms, Mr Yunus spoke about the need for robust economic reforms. The country had suffered under what he described as Ms Hasina’s “brutal dictatorship,” which, according to Mr Yunus, had led to widespread corruption and mismanagement.

“Our government will undertake far-reaching economic reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and sustain growth,” he said.

Mr Yunus accused Sheikh Hasina of systematically destroying the country’s institutions during her 15-year tenure. He alleged that elections under Ms Hasina’s rule were rigged, and democratic rights were suppressed.

“In their efforts to stay in power, Sheikh Hasina’s dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country,” Mr Yunus said. He described the judiciary as broken and accused the former administration of allowing political patronage to rob banks and plunder the state coffers.

The Nobel laureate described the recent mass uprising as a “Second Revolution,” led by students and ordinary citizens who sought to reclaim their democratic rights. 

International Support

In his message to the international community, Mr Yunus called for continued support in rebuilding Bangladesh and transitioning to a fully functional democracy. He assured the diplomats that Bangladesh would maintain its role as a proponent of multilateralism, with the United Nations at the core of its foreign policy.

“We believe all our friends and partners in the international community will stand by our government and people as we chart a new democratic future,” Yunus said.

“Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of a new beginning. Our valiant students and people deserve a lasting transformation of our nation. It is a difficult journey and we need your help along the way. We need to fulfil their aspirations. The sooner the better,” he added.

Mr Yunus also welcomed the United Nations’ decision to send a fact-finding mission to investigate the recent violence, committing to cooperate fully with the international inquiry.

New Delhi:

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina quit this week and fled the country after violent protests demanding her resignation.

Ms Hasina, who started her fifth term as Prime Minister earlier this year, left the capital Dhaka in a military aircraft and landed in India.

Her shocking exit has now impacted the trade between India and Bangladesh, which had grown during her tenure.

Movement of trucks carrying goods between India and Bangladesh at the Changrabandha border check post in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district has almost come to a standstill.

“We estimate that about $300 million worth of export trade has been affected due to the political crisis in Bangladesh. We export about $30 million to Bangladesh every day,” Ajay Sahai, the Director-General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) said.

Bangladesh, notably, is India’s biggest partner in the subcontinent, while Delhi is Dhaka’s second biggest partner in Asia after China.

Bangladesh is also the fourth largest export destination for India.

ALSO READ | What Sheikh Hasina’s Exit, Bangladesh Crisis Mean For India Ties

“Export has come to a standstill. Many trucks are stuck and even the movement of people with visas has minimised now,” Dhiraj Guha, an Indian exporter, said.

“Indian import is happening but export is completely stalled and many of our trucks are stuck,” another businessman said.

The political crisis in Bangladesh may also stall a potential free trade agreement between the two countries, which began in October last year.

Local Businesses “Hit Hard” Due To Bangladesh Crisis

Local businesses in the Indian states along the border have also taken a hit due to the crisis in Bangladesh.

Shopkeepers, transporters, and money changers are reporting over 80 percent decline in their businesses.

“The movement of people across the border is decreasing with every passing day. We have been sitting the whole day and are not getting any passengers to ferry to the nearest station,” Sanjay Das, an auto rickshaw driver at the international border check post in Petrapole in the Bagaon district of West Bengal, said.

“Our business has been hit hard,” he added.

ALSO READ | Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus To Lead Bangladesh’s Interim Government

The business has also slumped at the Akhurah-Agartala border check post in Tripura, a major India-Bangladesh border trade point.

“Earlier, we used to receive 15 trucks of fish imports daily. Other items would range from about 35 trucks. But today, only one truck of fish and two trucks of other items have entered. There is almost no trade happening and it is hurting us financially,” Titan Das, a good handler, said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, however, said he doubts that this will “stay for long”.