This year’s August is very eventful. The outgoing month holds a unique place in the history of Bangladesh. In this month, the student-mass movement ousted the autocratic regime. It is the victory of the unity of people of the country, it is the victory against misrule.
On August 5, as the movement culminated autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country. It will be written in the history a red-letter day. It is one of the greatest victories in our national history. The Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement resulted in the fall of Hasina’s autocratic government.
The fall of the autocratic regime and August
movement have paved the way
for state reform. We believe that Bangladesh
will march forward in the coming days.
As part of the movement which was going on from the beginning of July, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on August 3 launched the non-cooperation movement for one-point demand-- resignation of the-then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet. This movement reached a new dimension on August 4 following the brutal attack on students and mass people across the country by the law enforcers and Awami League men. Over 100 people, including students, were killed on that day. As a result, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement called for a long march to Dhaka to force Hasina out of power on August 5.
Millions of people from Dhaka and other parts of the country joined the August 5 programme to topple Sheikh Hasina and her government. At about 2:30 pm, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India by a helicopter with her sister Sheikh Rehana. Widespread celebrations occurred following her resignation and fleeing. As part of the celebrations, protesters entered the Prime Minister’s official residence Ganabhaban. On August 8, the current interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus took over.
The movement of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement was initially limited to the goal of reforming quotas in government jobs. This students’ movement snowballed into a mass anti-government uprising after the deaths of some protesters in mid-July. The movement geared up following mass killing in July and the countrymen became very angry with the-then government. The movement was also fueled by the government’s mismanagement in all the sectors, rampant corruption by a section of government officials and ruling party men, human rights violations, and increasing authoritarianism and democratic backsliding.
We want a peaceful and corruption-free Bangladesh. The fall of the autocratic regime and August movement have paved the way for state reform. We believe that Bangladesh will march forward in the coming days. Corruption, discrimination, mismanagement and anomalies will be eliminated from all the sectors. It is the ultimate desire of people.
