Bangladesh Protests Live Updates: Yunus Accuses Sheikh Hasina of Institutional Destruction

In a dramatic turn of events, the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday with having systematically destroyed the country's institutions in her mad attempts to cling onto power. He made this declaration during the briefing he had with diplomats in Dhaka on Sunday, August 18. Yunus, who became the chief adviser on August 8 after Hasina's resignation, has been promising an honest and independent election once his government executes the mandated reforms.

The Fallout of Student Protests

The political crisis began when 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina quit and eloped to India on August 5. Her exit was preceded by large-scale student protests against a disputed quota system in government jobs that had caused much turmoil. It was in the face of growing discontent and demands for reform from an unusually wide cross-section of society.

Reopening of Educational Institutions

With universities, secondary schools, and colleges in Bangladesh now all reopened after more than a month of shutdown, all educational establishments were closed since 17 July due to the violently led student protests in the country. The closures aimed at protecting the safety of the students amid ongoing conflict over the quota system.

New Legal Challenges for Sheikh Hasina

The latest development is that a murder case has been filed against Sheikh Hasina. The case accuses her, along with 12 others, of their alleged involvement in the killing of two college students in the recent anti-quota protests at Sutrapur in Dhaka. This case adds to a growing list of legal troubles for the former prime minister.

Yunus's Policy Reassurances

In his first major policy address, Nobel laureate Yunus tried to allay the fear of a wary public by promising his interim government would continue supporting the Rohingya refugee population and the vital garment industry. Back from Europe for this uphill task, Yunus swore he would continue to steer the country toward democratic reforms amid the institutional decay.

Human Toll of Protests

The police headquarters has confirmed at least 44 police officers killed during the violent protests from July 20 to August 14. This clearly implies that the unrest had a very serious toll on law enforcers.

Taut is the country as Bangladesh passes through this transition and reformation phase, when interim leader Yunus tends to restore stability and integrity to institutions of the nation.