Editorial | The current tensions in Bangladesh are not in anyone’s interest
- Priority must be to restore order, protect investors from Hong Kong, mainland China, elsewhere. Bangladesh must not squander economic gains
Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, driven out of office by deadly protests, had ruled her country for more than 20 years in total – or nearly half its history since independence in 1971. She was a survivor in a volatile political environment.
Hasina was finally brought undone when protesters united against her on one issue, plunging the South Asian nation of about 170 million into violent upheaval and forcing her to resign.
What began as a student protest against politically loaded reform of the government job quota system eventually brought people from all walks of life onto the streets and evolved into a mass uprising against Hasina’s latest 15-year rule, punctuated by calls for her resignation.
This finally came at the cost of nearly 300 lives and thousands of injured in clashes between the authorities and protesters.
The army has taken control pending an election. Hopefully it does not plan to remain in power and there will be a peaceful transition to a proper government.
The most pressing task is to restore peace and stability. The sooner a popular vote is held to restore civilian rule the better.
