TORONTO and DHAKA, Aug 20 (IPS) – “I hope the outcome will be different. I hope the end result will not be the same,” says Shireen Huqwomen’s rights and human rights activist and founder of Naripokkho Organizationto IPS about the many similarities with the Arab Spring.
The recent revolution in Bangladesh that led to the dismantling of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic rule has left hundreds of young lives, including at least 32 children, at the hands of police and auxiliaries. According to a recent report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights“There are strong indications, which warrant further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation.”
The Islamists (the Muslim Brotherhood) came to power in parliamentary elections in the Muslim-majority country of Egypt in 2011, right after the Arab Spring, and got an elected president in 2012. The military returned with a coup and seized power in the country again in 2013, installing the current president as head of state. Could this scenario repeat itself in Bangladesh?
I spoke to Huq who believes that there is a real problem of religiosity among the youth in Bangladesh. However, this would not necessarily lead to support for fundamentalist forces. “We saw that the fundamentalist forces were active in the protest. It is uncertain at this point to what extent they can navigate the situation and gain any advantage from it. Hopefully, the interim government can maintain their grip on the situation and keep it moving in the right direction.”
Disappointment over omission of women from interim government
However, Huq is disappointed that women are not represented in the interim government, although initial discussions have taken place.
“The garment industry is run by a majority of the female workforce. During this uprising and these protests, we saw hundreds and thousands of women on the streets. This is also unprecedented, as women will be the majority not only in numbers but also in energy and strength. Two young men have been pulled out of the movement, so this is a bit worrying. But overall, I am not worried about further erosion of women’s rights. I rather hope that women’s rights will be further promoted,” said Shireen Huq.
In 2018, Huq and her organization, which is made up of mostly feminists, many of them middle-aged, developed a women’s manifesto that they are currently sending to all members of the interim government to set out the expected priorities for women. “We have to wait and see. We have to give young women the space to organize themselves as they want. They will figure out for themselves how to build their own space, their own structures, their own organizations.”
In her article entitled “Living in the time of revolution“, Anna Alexanderfounder of MENA Solidarity Network, wrote that rulers “will always try to tip the balance back, to restore their ability to govern by whatever means they can. In a very real sense, ‘revolution time’ is therefore always borrowed time.”
The deposed Awami League is a major political party in Bangladesh and has many supporters, including among the grassroots. They have a failed attempt at a comeback on August 15the date independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975.
First reforms, then democracy
What the world saw in Bangladesh embodies the analysis of Martha C. Nussbaum in her book entitled Anger and forgiveness“Making people aware of the injustice of society’s treatment of them is a necessary first step toward social progress… Sometimes the legal structure itself is unjust and corrupt. What people need to do is not merely to secure justice for this or that particular injustice, but ultimately to change the legal order.” (p. 211, 212)
Social justice and reforms seem to be at the forefront of the agenda of the youth in Bangladesh, while democracy is second for now. “Democracy is definitely one of the main goals, but it is not just democracy that is popularly understood as elections,” clarifies Corner. “What is on the agenda now is ‘reforms’. The slogan of the streets is also ‘Reform of the State’ in every sector. The success of the interim government is to some extent the implementation of those reforms. Democracy is equality and justice in the true sense of the word. Social justice and democracy will go hand in hand.”
Student protesters held their ground rejecting calls for snap elections and declared their own political party. There is undoubtedly a generation gap when it comes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was considered the Father of the Nation. Young people have no memory of earlier times. “Hasina used her father in every possible way,” says Corner“I think it’s my generation that complains about the inability of young people to make that separation, so they attacked his statues and portraits, which was probably unnecessary. There’s a lot of pent-up anger, not just about his daughter’s autocracy, but also about the crimes of her time.”
We are living in an era of acceleration all over the world with the prevalence of technology and the pace of life. New generations seem to have less inertia compared to previous generations and we are witnessing many youth revolutions. Corner thinks revolutions can be contagious. “I’m not saying what is happening in pakistan is happening in Bangladesh, but it is interesting that it is happening in South Asia, and maybe we will see something happening in India as well, something that is very much needed in India.” Despite the great momentum of the energy of the revolution, Corner is concerned about India’s intervention and interference“I think there have been some warnings about it. If India really wants Bangladesh to prosper and do well, then the best thing they can do is to stay away from it.”
Randa El Ozeiris a Canadian-Lebanese journalist who writes about health issues, women’s rights and social justice.
IPS UN Office
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
