Bangladesh police have arrested over 1,300 individuals as part of a sweeping crackdown on supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The arrests come amid escalating tensions following protests that led to the ousting of Hasina’s government last August.
The recent unrest was sparked by violent protests and attacks on key political figures. Last week, demonstrators destroyed the house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father and Hasina’s father, following her planned speech to supporters from exile in India. This act of violence has intensified a cycle of revenge, with attacks on Hasina’s supporters and clashes between rival factions.
Political unrest has surged since the fall of Hasina’s government, which had faced accusations of corruption and repression. Following weeks of mass protests and violent clashes, the student-led movement that led to Hasina’s ouster has demanded the dismantling of Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution, citing it as a symbol of her father’s legacy and authoritarian rule.
In response to the violence, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has sought to restore order, urging calm after the attack on Rahman’s house. However, tensions remain high as the situation unfolds.
The government’s efforts to arrest protestors have raised concerns among some observers, with fears that such actions may further destabilize the already volatile political climate. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, head of the Interior Ministry, emphasized that the crackdown will continue until what he described as the “devils” are “uprooted.”
As the country faces an uncertain future, the political crisis continues to deepen, and the impact of these arrests on the ongoing unrest remains to be seen.
