The recent detention of three student leaders in Bangladesh has sparked a new wave of tension, with protesters threatening to resume their agitation against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. The arrests come on the heels of nationwide protests that initially erupted against the country’s controversial quota system, but quickly escalated into a broader movement against Hasina’s rule.
The protests, which began earlier this month, saw widespread clashes between protesters and security forces, leading to the deaths of over 200 people and injuries to hundreds more. In response to the escalating unrest, Hasina deployed the military, imposed a nationwide curfew, and shut down internet access for days. The protests were eventually called off after the Supreme Court scrapped the quota system.
However, the detention of three leaders from the Members of Students Against Discrimination (MSAD), the group that spearheaded the protests, has reignited tensions. The group alleges that their leaders, Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Baker Majumder, were forcibly discharged from the hospital where they were receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the protests and subsequently detained by plainclothes police officers.
Abdul Hannan Masud, a protest coordinator, has demanded the immediate release of the detained leaders and the dropping of charges against them. Masud further called for “visible actions” against government ministers and police officers responsible for the deaths of protesters. He warned that if no action is taken, the group will launch “tough protests” starting Monday.
The violence during the protests has resulted in the deaths of at least 205 people, including several police personnel. The protesters claim the death toll is higher, at 266, while the government has reported 147 deaths. Over 9,000 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. The nationwide curfew remains in place, and the military continues to patrol the streets even with the restoration of internet access.
Despite the immediate trigger of the protests being the quota system, which critics alleged favored Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) party, the movement ultimately became a wider expression of discontent against Hasina’s leadership. Her critics have accused her of cracking down on opposition and stifling liberties in Bangladesh. In the recent elections, Hasina secured a victory largely unopposed, as the main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), boycotted the polls.
