INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The relief in Dhaka was palpable
volunteers trying to restore normality to the city after a tumultuous week that has transformed Bangladesh.The resignation of prime minister
Sheikh Hasina on Monday initially caused a city-wide street party
But it was swiftly followed by looting and reprisal attacks against her supporters and the police
These have somewhat calmed since Thursday, when Yunus was sworn in.But in a city of 20 million people, that calm is eerie, born out of a
Neighbourhoods have established nightwatches, reports of suspicious activity are being swapped on Facebook groups and, in the wealthier
districts, car headlamps are being left on at night to light up the road
after it has landed in Bangladesh on 8 August
Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty ImagesAs Yunus returned to Bangladesh to lead the country, having a week earlier been under threat of
imprisonment, he called for an end to violence and protection for minorities
And with police still absent from the streets, the army has established 200 temporary camps across the country and posted soldiers to
abandoned police stations to ensure security.The country now awaits his next steps and to see whether the interim government can lay the
groundwork for a break from a political system after a student-led protest movement forced Hasina from power.The military rule of the 1980s
alternated power, with both sides being associated with corruption and political violence
Hasina had been in power since 2009, establishing an increasingly autocratic government that crushed the opposition and criticism from media
and activists.But her grip on power was undone by a student protest movement over a quota system to allocate 30% of government jobs to the
activists beat protesters
A days-long internet blackout was imposed but when it ended videos poured out of protesters being shot at, hacked with machetes and run over
The anger spread to wider society and became uncontrollable, leading to calls for justice even after the quota system was removed.View image
in fullscreenPeople shake hands with soldiers as they celebrate the resignation of Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on 5 August
Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/ReutersA mass march through the centre of Dhaka had been called on Monday but as the protesters
that Hasina had resigned and fled in a helicopter.Two of the student leaders, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are part of the interim
government, having forced the military to listen to them after it had initially only consulted the political parties when announcing it had
power shoved down our throats and it feels as if we are suddenly freed
The social media platform has quickly grown to 40,000 followers after being set up on 18 July to spread awareness of the protests and the
dissent, and now lives outside the country, speaking out anonymously to protect their family still in Bangladesh.They said they are hopeful
rush into elections which would be likely to benefit the established political parties.skip past newsletter promotionAnalysis and opinion on
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in fullscreenThe statue of Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh and the father of Sheikh Hasina, became a focus for demonstrators
But most concerning for many have been attacks on the Hindu minority.locator mapRana Dasgupta, who leads a group representing minorities,
the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, said Islamist groups seemed to be taking advantage of the chaos to make Hindus feel
Though he did not have specific statistics, attacks have been reported on Hindu homes, property and temples in at least 52 districts
This government, born from an anti-discriminatory movement, must prioritise and enhance protections for Hindus and other religious and
government, said that once security has been restored, the priority will be to rebuild confidence in government institutions, deal with high
living costs and clean up the electoral and judicial systems that many believe were compromised to favour the Awami League.View image in
fullscreenThe aftermath of protests in Dhaka as Bangladesh awaits a new interim government
Abdullah.The youth, in particular, seem keen not to rush into elections, believing that setting the foundations for a new political system
establishment were forced out
The central bank governor also quit, although his resignation had not been accepted.Hasina is now in exile, believed to be in India, to
which she flew on Monday, but eyeing her next destination
Media reports first suggested she would seek asylum in the UK
The Indian TV channel News18 reported that the United Arab Emirates could be another option.The victory the students won over Hasina is,
emphasise enough: to bring positive change, you must listen to young people and their fresh ideas
want to tell everyone that our job is not done
This article first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com
