Smoke billows near a burnt Awami League party office as anti-government protesters set it on fire in Dhaka on August 6. (Image: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP)
“A large number of Bangladeshis are heading towards Indian borders. It’s time for the present dispensation to take charge and settle the issues,” said top Indian intelligence sources
Even after the exit of Sheikh Hasina and the appointment of a new head of the Bangladesh government, Mohammad Yunus, the violence in the country is yet to end.
In one such incident, local madrassa students removed a nameplate — ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway’ – of the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, at the Dhaleshwari toll plaza in Munshiganj. They replaced it with a banner that read – ‘Father of the Nation Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) Expressway’.
Maulana Obaidullah Kashemi, vice-principal of Jamia Islamia Halimia Madhupur Madrasa and a Hefajat Islam leader, confirmed the act, saying they plan to rename another toll plaza.
According to rules, the names of state infrastructure can’t be changed without a government gazette.
Toll collection has been halted since August 5, when Hasina fled, and the damaged toll plaza is expected to be repaired within four to five days if the law and order situation improves.
ATTACK ON SUPREME COURT
The protesters also attempted to attack the Supreme Court and burn down the home of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh. They demanded the court resign and they provided a list of names of people to be appointed. They want the Chief Justice, too, to resign later.
The interim government gave in to their demand and appointed Justices named by the protesters. According to sources in Bangladesh, the Supreme Court of a country can be changed only after due process. Sources said this is “not reform, but mob rule”. “There is no rule of law in Bangladesh when even the Supreme Court is not safe,” sources said.
MEDIA UNDER ATTACK
The protesters also gave a list of names of 41journalists to the Press Club, demanding they be expelled.
Brig Gen M Sakhawat Hussain, the interim government’s advisor for home affairs, has warned the media, saying the government is watching them and that they are not showing the truth.
Hinting towards the Hasina government’s tenure, he also said that the media had not highlighted the truth previously. Several media offices were burnt down by the protesters in the past few days, while Somoy TV was made to change the management by force. Media outlets are being prohibited from covering ongoing lawlessness and counter protests outside the city.
A DANGEROUS TREND: INDIAN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
“This is the beginning of a dangerous trend in Bangladesh. Not following rules, laws, changing names and removing judges will lead Bangladesh to complete anarchy,” said top sources in the Indian intelligence.
“A large number of Bangladeshis are heading towards Indian borders. It’s time for the present dispensation to take charge and settle everything,” they said.
Read More: No End To Bangladesh Violence: Vandalising Toll Plaza Nameplate To Pressure On SC, Media |
