More protests than ever in Bangladesh as country struggles with post-revolution transition: Video
Despite the end of the uprising that saw the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina, protests in Bangladesh are at an all-time high, with more demonstrations erupting in the capital Dhaka than during the revolutionary period itself.
On a busy street in Dhaka, Mahbubul Haque Shipon, a 47-year-old hunger striker, stands as one of the many voices calling for systemic change. For the past four days, Shipon has been on a solitary hunger strike, demanding the repeal of the country’s old constitution and the removal of the sitting president, Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu.
“The students and people of this country realize that change only comes after an uprising. As long as the old constitution is not repealed and Chuppu is not removed, I will continue this hunger strike,” Shipon told the AFP.
Shipon’s protest is barely noticeable amidst the dozens of other demonstrations taking place on the same busy thoroughfare. Nearby, a group of government land office employees chanted demands for better pay and working conditions, while a solitary protestor urged the government to safeguard Sufi religious shrines.
In another part of the city, a human chain is forming to protest the anonymous death threats against a university official.
For over 15 years, Hasina's government imposed draconian restrictions on public gatherings, silencing voices of opposition. But with her departure, these restrictions have been lifted, unleashing a flood of protests.
"Before, we could not even stand in the streets to voice our concerns," says Bulbul Ahmed, a 30-year-old protestor. "Now, we can. And we are standing here to make our demands known to the new government of Yunus." Ahmed is referring to the newly appointed administration of economist and former UN official Muhammad Yunus, who assumed leadership after Hasina's removal. However, his government has yet to quell the rising tide of public unrest.
The protests are not just limited to the streets; they are also being voiced in legal and academic circles. Mohammad Shishir Manir, a 42-year-old lawyer, explains the broader constitutional context behind these demonstrations. "Freedom of speech is a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution. No one can impose restrictions on an individual's right to speak, appear in public, or express their thoughts," Manir says. “The awareness of these rights is crucial for a functioning democracy.”
