Following the student-led movement that toppled the government in Bangladesh, the world is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. In Pakistan, from the general public to influential circles, many are interpreting the revolution in Bangladesh as a lesson in their context. Meanwhile, India's typical response has been to accuse Pakistan of aiding the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement in Bangladesh, an allegation Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already refuted. Despite this, India's official and social media continue to project the unrest in Bangladesh as being driven by 'Islamic extremist elements,' claiming that Hindu minorities were specifically targeted during the chaos.
To uncover the truth, we reached out to Qadaruddin Shishir, a Dhaka-based investigative journalist and fact-checker affiliated with an international news agency. Shishir has been covering the situation since the student protests began in July against the quota system in government jobs.
When we spoke to him on the morning of 10 August, he informed us that students were protesting outside the Supreme Court demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidullah Hassan, with reports suggesting that his resignation was imminent. The Chief Justice had called for a full court session without the interim government's approval, which was perceived as 'judicial overreach.' Students, who believed that Sheikh Hasina had enforced her anti-democratic measures through her loyal judges, including the Chief Justice, became incensed, leading to his eventual resignation along with several other judges.
According to Shishir, Bangladesh made significant economic progress during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, but the benefits never reached the general populace due to corruption. Moreover, economic statistics were exaggerated, often with the support of Indian media
Looting fears led to ATM shutdowns
"The situation in the country is returning to normal, but unrest persists in some areas," said Shishir on 10 August. "Markets have reopened, but banks, business centers, grocery stores, and ATMs remain closed due to fears of looting. I tried withdrawing money from ten different ATMs, but all were shut down.” While students have cleared the roads, most petrol pumps remain closed.
Crackdown on the police
Shishir described how the public's trust in the police eroded after they opened fire on student protesters, leading to the deaths of young boys aged 10 to 12. The angered public turned against the police, particularly after Sheikh Hasina fled the country. “The public launched a crackdown against the police,” Shishir noted. "In the aftermath, 450 out of around 700 police stations were attacked, paralysing the entire system. Police stations were abandoned, and officers disappeared for four days. Students took control of traffic, but conditions are improving now. With the formation of the interim government, people are patiently awaiting further progress. The police are slowly reemerging."
Three reasons behind the destruction of Mujib's statues
For Pakistanis, perhaps the most shocking aspect of the unrest in Bangladesh was the destruction of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statues. The man hailed as the "Friend of Bengal” and the founder of Bangladesh is now witnessing his monuments torn down. According to Shishir, there are three primary reasons for the public's wrath. First, during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, millions from public funds were spent on erecting statues of her father, Sheikh Mujib, with these statues being placed at almost every significant government building, road, and even hospital under the title "Bangabandhu" (Friend of Bengal). Most people, aside from the Awami League supporters, saw this as a waste of money, especially when the country was already struggling economically.
Secondly, Sheikh Mujib was not the only hero of the independence movement. Figures like Maulana Abdul Hamid Bhashani, Tajuddin Ahmed and Ziaur Rahman were also major figures. Bhashani was even Mujib's mentor. Many who revered these figures were angered by the lack of recognition for them, while Mujib's image was ubiquitous.
Lastly, anything associated with Sheikh Hasina's regime, seen as a symbol of tyranny, became a target of public anger after her ouster.
Distortion of economic facts led to downfall
According to Shishir, Bangladesh made significant economic progress during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, but the benefits never reached the general populace due to corruption. Moreover, economic statistics were exaggerated, often with the support of Indian media. International publications, including The Economist, have written about these statistical distortions. The truth came to light when the government sought an IMF loan amid financial troubles in 2023. Although the government claimed foreign reserves of $31 billion, the IMF found them to be under $24 billion, exposing several discrepancies.
Clamour in India – and the reality
In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's ousting, the Indian government and social media have been aggressively pushing narratives about widespread attacks on temples, mass killings of Hindus, and sexual assaults on women in Bangladesh. Videos and images are being circulated to support these claims. Shishir however, provides a different perspective based on his fact-checking. "There was no police presence for four days, and unruly mob take advantage of such situations. While there was a significant number of incidents where minority properties including temples were targeted, vandalised or torched, a section of Indian media has blown the situation out of proportion. As some minority leaders already was quoted saying in media reports, “most of the violence was directed at individuals associated with the police or the Awami League.”
Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported as of August 11 that four Hindus were killed during the clashes. Shishir found that at least two of them were members of police and Awami League. Out of thousands of homes or businesses were looted and burned, around 200 incidents belong to minority communities, according to the report published by the Unity Council.
Pro-Hasina media also targeted
Pro-Hasina journalists and media houses were not spared from the wrath of the public. "Many TV channels and newspaper offices in Dhaka were attacked, and journalists perceived as pro-govt were targeted even in different areas," Shishir said. "International media journalists remained relatively safe as the public trusts their impartiality."
“Stay Away From Us,” warned the students
When asked about the political background of the student movement, Shishir clarified that the protests against the 30% quota in government jobs for families of freedom fighters were entirely non-political. Among the protesters was Sargis Alam, who was a former Dhaka University student union leader from the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League. The students formed 'Students Against Discrimination,' which had no mother organisation. The leaders of the platform always rejected any kind of participation by political parties like BNP or Jamaat e Islami.
The student protests evolved into a national movement after the police used force, killing six students. By July 18, more than 50 protesters had been killed, turning the protests into a national uprising.
About the rumours of foreign involvement in the movement, Shishir said, "The students took bullets in their chests fighting for their right to jobs. While some countries might be pleased with the end of Hasina’s regime, this revolution was not driven by foreign conspiracies but by the genuine grievances of the Bangladeshi people who fought for their rights."
Bright future on the horizon
Shishir is optimistic about his country’s future. He noted that an interim government has been established under the leadership of Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who will oversee the decisions regarding new elections. "Political circles are debating whether elections will be held soon. If so, the BNP could come to power as they have the infrastructure in place. However, if the interim government stays in power for a few years, the revolutionary students might form a new political party." Shishir suggested that the latter scenario is more likely, as people demand reforms in the police, judiciary, and other institutions, which will take time to implement. "The people of Bangladesh are patiently waiting for a better future."