Sheikh Hasina has deployed
@USTreasury
sanctioned RAB at
#DhakaUniversity
to quell the protesters. RAB has threatened strict actions after evening. It's similar to deploying
#IRGC
killers to quell protests in Iran. Yesterday RAB's parent org. police killed 6 in
#Bangladesh
.
As always, insightful analysis by Ali Riaz on
#Bangladesh
’s protests: “Because Hasina’s government doesn’t have the popular mandate, it has very few instruments in its toolbox to face off challenges to its power – except the use of force.”
Do the dictators in Dhaka think anyone is going to believe their lies? This statement was clearly coerced after these brave students were tortured and threatened. The world must hold the
#Bangladesh
regime’s leadership accountable.
@omctorg
#Bangladesh
:
#Students
Against
#Discrimination
coordinators withdraw all ongoing programmes. Says their main demand has been met by the Govt. Demands investigation of, and punishment for, the killings and property destruction during the
#violence
centering the
#QuotaMovement
.
These are iconic images and a powerful symbol of the United States’ support for
#Bangladesh
’s reform efforts.
@ChiefAdviserGoB
and his team have a full agenda in New York and a great story to tell the world.
The people of
#Bangladesh
have made it clear that the regime has forfeited its right to rule. To avoid further bloodshed and for the country to move forward, there needs to be a new government. PM Hasina should put her nation first and resign.
#StepDownHasina
.
This is painful to watch. In the video is Nurul Haque Nur, the leader of a small political party in Bangladesh, the Gono Odhikar Parishad [People's Rights Forum]. He was involved in the 2018 student quota protests but not these recent ones. Here he is being brought to court after
THREAD: Bangladesh has used at least one UN-marked vehicle to quell student quota protests. We found pictures taken in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, on July 21st showing the UN insignia on an armored personnel carrier.
The ongoing protests in
#Bangladesh
provide further proof that only the country’s citizens can reverse its authoritarian decline. Members of the security forces need to decide if they want to stand with the oppressed or the oppressors.
The U.S. and others need to do more than watch the situation in
#Bangladesh
and issue statements. There need to be concrete steps to hold the regime and its supporters accountable for these actions. It cannot be business as usual.
#WATCH
| This is how the DoS Spox responded to my questions today about
#ChatraLeague
's brutal attacks on student protesters in
#Bangladesh
. The regime's inhumane actions have led to at least 7 students being killed. I was a bit emotional in the briefing room describing the
Nobody believes these lies. They are the desperate last gasps of an illegitimate regime that has declared war on its people. The regime’s days are numbered and a new day will dawn for
#Bangladesh
, thanks to the sacrifices of its brave students.
I will miss following
@TulipSiddiq
‘s rise to the top of
@UKLabour
. Can others please let me know what happens with the ethics inquiry into her housing situation? I would also be interested in knowing when she expresses regret for her family’s actions in
#Bangladesh
.
It is noteworthy that no
#Bangladesh
government officials have been fired or have resigned in the wake of hundreds of protestors being killed by security forces. This means that the regime and its supporters are proud of what they have done. Let that sink in for a minute.
The
#Bangladesh
Army is understandably concerned about its domestic and international image. The use of excessive force and misuse of equipment earmarked for UN missions will only increase international scrutiny and jeopardize engagement opportunities.
Spoke to
@POTUS
@JoeBiden
on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability.
We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and
As more and more information comes to light about the horrors that have taken place in
#Bangladesh
of late, it is clear the regime has lost whatever legitimacy it may have had. The only way out is for there to be free and fair elections that result in a legitimate government.
The last thing
#Bangladesh
needs at this point is to deal with the effects of serious flooding. Responding to the floods will be a test for the interim government and require civil-military cooperation at the national and local level. As they have done in the past, the U.S.
Reports that
#Bangladesh
has again partially shut down the internet show it is losing the battle for hearts and minds. The images coming out today clearly show that widespread protests show no sign of ending. Students remain on the vanguard of this inspiring movement.
#WATCH
| We are closely following the dire situation in
#Bangladesh
, where security forces have been ordered to shoot on sight, and internet shutdowns persist. Hundreds have died. We condemn all violence and express unwavering support for peaceful assembly.
@StateDept
More great work by
@MushfiqulFazal
. Pleased to see a strong statement from
@antonioguterres
on developments in
#Bangladesh
. Notably the UNSYG is calling out credible human rights violations. A good next step would be to appoint an
@UNHumanRights
Commission of Inquiry
#WATCH
|
@antonioguterres
said that he was alarmed by reports of excessive use of force by security forces and credible reports of human rights violations in
#Bangladesh
. He calls for anyone involved in these violations to be held accountable as
@UN_Spokesperson
said today.
The work of debunking disinformation about
#Bangladesh
is never ending. Kudos to
@Sohan_RSB
and others who are on the forefront of this effort. Accounts like "Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus" need to be held accountable.
Popaganda handle "Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus" is doing what it does best — spreading anti-Bangladesh false propaganda.
The man in the circulated photo is not a militant; he is Md. Mizanur Rahman, a prison guard at Rangpur Jail.
On Friday, August 16, during the Jummah prayer,
The iconic images from
#Bangladesh
over the past year have been those of defiance from victims of the regime’s excesses. Here is another to add to the list. When will the world take action?
The U.S. needs to understand that its lack of action on
#Bangladesh
will be interpreted by many as tacit support for the Hasina regime. When (not if) things change, the U.S. risks being seen as having again been on the wrong side of history. Now is the time to act.
My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the
Thanks to
@MushfiqulFazal
for getting
@StateDeptSpox
on the record. What is missing from this response is a call for accountability for those committing gross human rights violations. Absent this, the
#Bangladesh
regime will be undaunted as it oppresses its opponents.
Let me suggest a rewrite: President Biden embraced the
#Bangladeshi
people's historic victory against autocracy and pledged support for
@ChiefadvisorGoB
's ambitious reform agenda. Bangladesh's success will provide an alternative to China's authoritarian model and enhance
After the failed regime-change effort in Venezuela and Congo's handing down of death sentences to three Americans for a coup attempt, Biden today met the nominal head of Bangladesh's new military-installed regime, Muhammad Yunus, and extended "full support" to his usurper regime.
The damage to its reputation was a major reason why the
#Bangladesh
army leadership pushed for elections in 2009. The present crisis may harm the army’s reputation among youth and impact future recruitment. Serving as political enforcers for the regime comes at a cost.
The U.S. should also apply sanctions against those who have undermined
#Bangladesh
's democracy, in line with the May 2023 policy. The U.S. must deny entry to those individuals and their family members, preventing them from enjoying freedoms here that they deny to fellow
How can those who criticize China for the
#Tiananmen
massacre stay silent while the
#Bangladesh
regime brutally kills students protesting for democracy and human rights? The way to compete with China is not to support regimes that follow Beijing's authoritarian playbook.
Sheikh Hasina’s family members have plenty of experience in exile over the years playing the victim card and lobbying for support. They also benefit from the freedoms abroad that they denied fellow citizens at home. So be it.
This time around they have plenty of money to
The arrogance displayed here is incredible. At their core, members of this family hated
#Bangladesh
. The last 15 years resulted from Hasina’s desire for revenge and the family’s belief that Bangladesh owed them everything. This explains the looting and the destruction.
Former
#Bangladeshi
prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son
@sajeebwazed
to an Indian tv channel " We are tired of saving Bangladesh...Bangladesh is not our problem anymore and the people of Bangladesh are very very ungrateful...its their problem..not mine anymore"
While peaceful protest is a right that all should hold dear, there is a certain irony in protesting on behalf of a dictator who ordered the killing of students in
#Bangladesh
just weeks prior. At least Hasina will not be celebrating her birthday in the U.S. this year.
Students of
#Bangladesh
’s history cannot help but see parallels between the current moment and 1971. The main difference is that PM Hasina and her regime are cast in the roles of the Pakistani establishment. Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
I don't know any serious
#Bangladesh
analyst who believes that the country is about to succumb to an Islamic revolution akin to Iran post-1979.
I would encourage those who have not done so to actually spend some time in the country and meet with the people. They will learn as
Bangladesh pre-2024 was to India as Iran pre-1979 was to US. Shah held back extremist forces that threatened American and Western interests. Now, the question becomes will post-2024 Bangladesh give India fits as post-1979 Iran does to US today. The story is yet to be written…
With one-party polls now scheduled, the U.S. should reassess relations with
#bangladesh
. To start, Amb Haas should return for consultations with the Admin and Congress. Suspending USAID, security sector engagement, IFI programs, and RMG market access should be on the table.
With mounting evidence of human rights violations by the
#Bangladesh
authorities, the
@StateDept
and
@StateDeptSpox
need to update their banal talking points. At a minimum, there needs to be a clear call for an impartial inquiry leading to accountability. Why the hesitation?
The latest tactic of pro-Awami League activists in the U.S. is to press the Biden Administration to criticize
#Bangladesh
’s interim government by comparing it to Hamas. This false narrative does not hold up to any serious scrutiny but gains traction with those seeking to
There are few former U.S. diplomats who know
#Bangladesh
as well as Dan Mozena. There are even fewer who care more about the country and its people. Here he voices sentiments that many of Bangladesh's friends around the world are feeling.
I am betting that there was a similar address by Yahya Khan in 1971 terming the muktijodhha “terrorists” and calling for them to be suppressed with a firm hand.
#Bangladesh
India is clearly not ready to come to grips with
#Bangladesh
’s new reality. Sooner or later this will have to change. Until then, the interim government should focus on rebuilding relations with traditional partners alienated by the Hasina regime.
@ChiefAdviserGoB
will not
Besides scheduling issues, comments by Yunus on India-Bangladesh relations in a recent interview and near-daily remarks by members of the interim government in Dhaka perceived as critical of India have not gone down well in New Delhi
Link in Comments
#modi
#NarendraModi
#DrYunus
I have seen supportive statements from a number UK MP’s related to the
#Bangladesh
crisis. The silence from
@TulipSiddiq
is notable. What does she think about her aunt’s actions?
As
#Bangladesh
PM Hasina’s principal backer, India faces a stark choice as the current crisis escalates. Will New Delhi continue to back Hasina at the risk of alienating those protesting her rule? How will
#India
respond if Hasina moves even closer to Beijing?
It is time for the US and international community to hold the
#Bangladesh
regime accountable, including its security forces. There needs to be a credible international inquiry into the killings. Here are some of my thoughts.
After a comprehensive review of our bilateral cooperation due to anti-democratic actions by the Georgian government, we are pausing $95 million in assistance that benefits the Government of Georgia. We remain committed to the Georgian people and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
We see mounting domestic and international criticism of the Hasina regime in
#Bangladesh
. The criticism comes from across the ideological spectrum—from Marxists to religious conservatives. Meanwhile the
@albd1971
’s only support is from direct beneficiaries of the regime.
To perpetuate her rule,
#Bangladesh
PM Hasina has coopted a loyal cadre of bureaucrats, security forces, judicial, media and business elites. This strategy has worked for 15 years, but is now crumbling as millions outside her patronage networks demand their rights.
During the Hasina dictatorship many of
#Bangladesh
’s best and brightest were forced to leave. I hope many choose to return and join arms with those who stayed and fought, and together build a Sonar Bangla with the help of international friends.
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (DS ATA) Program has completed three Crisis Response Team (CRT) courses. Nine Bangladesh Police members have received international certification as a Crisis Response Team/CRT
A bold statement from
@ItalyambBD
. Will other diplomats follow suit? More importantly will these states put pressure on
#Bangladesh
at the UN and in IFIs and other international organizations?
I wonder if
@drSaimaWazed
and
@WHOSEARO
are concerned about the health of the hundreds of protestors who were killed in Bangladesh by the regime's security forces and their armed supporters?
This is an incredible interview from
@Yunus_Centre
. Everyone should read and take these words to heart—in particular those in decision-making positions in New Delhi. Prof Yunus is a global treasure and deserves far better than he has been treated.
In July, in the space of 48hrs, the
#UAE
arbitrarily arrested 57
#Bangladesh
-i men, subjected them to a grossly unfair mass trial & sentenced them to lengthy prison terms. They must be released immediately & unconditionally.
Peaceful protest is not a crime!
#ProtectTheProtest
Has
@drSaimaWazed
submitted her resignation yet? If not, will
@WHOSEARO
and
@DrTedros
do the right thing and send her into retirement to join her mother? The travesty of her appointment should be reversed immediately.
A short while ago I was formally appointed as the new Regional Director for
@WHOSEARO
.
I undertake this responsibility with humility, and with a promise to work with a spirit of cooperation & partnership to implement my vision for our region.
I concluded my remarks to
@DrTedros
What an amazing coincidence. Out of a country of 170 million people, the perfect candidate for this job was found in the PM’s family. What are the odds?
The new
#Bangladesh
is witnessing a renaissance in the quantity and quality of outstanding reporting and analysis.
@DhakaTribune
has been leading the way under
@ZafarSobhan
’s leadership. Here is his latest must read contribution.
The moral bankruptcy of the
#Bangladesh
regime is now on full display as the courageous student protesters and their supporters continue the fight for their rights. The regime’s usual tactics are proving to be increasingly ineffective in the face of determined resistance.
I guess it is time for a reminder that
@drSaimaWazed
is not qualified to lead
@WHOSEARO
and is only in the position because her dictator mother twisted arms at home and abroad to get her the job.
#Bangladesh
and the region should reverse this travesty.
Regional Director
@drSaimaWazed
emphasizes on cross-cutting multi-sectoral collaboration to influence and impact each driver of antimicrobial resistance and draws attention to high impact and low capacities of low- and middle-income countries to deal with
#AMR
.
She was
Nobody believes these lies any longer. The dam is breaking. The
#Bangladesh
regime's defenders are increasingly isolated and worried about their futures.
I understand why diplomats post about their engagement with senior officials but ignoring what is happening outside 5 star hotels comes across as tone deaf.
#bangladesh
#QuotaReformMovement
Delighted to join Hon. State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, at the opening of the 🇪🇺🇧🇩Cybersecurity Symposium funded by 🇪🇺TAIEX - a valuable exercise to share expertise on tackling cyber threats.
What do today's large scale protests throughout Bangladesh, involving hundreds of thousands of people, many of which are calling very directly for Sheikh Hasina to resign, mean?
The protests are unlikely to stop. They are triggered by a quite understandable deep emotional
After the events of the past 48 hours, it is even harder to understand
@StateDept
reluctance to hold the Hasina regime accountable for the war it has unleashed on
#Bangladesh
's citizens. Regardless of what the U.S. may be doing behind the scenes, those who are risking their
#Bangladesh
PM Hasina's decision to hang on until the last minute and save her own skin by fleeing to India ultimately resulted in her abandoning those who had propped up her regime. As many of them now begin to face consequences in Bangladesh while she and her family members
I recall a Middle East expert once remarking that everyone knew the Arab Spring was going to happen—they just did not know when. I have a similar feeing about
#Bangladesh
these days. The fall of a despotic regime is inevitable. Is this the moment?
This won't help
#Bangladesh
's image in the United States. “Innocent people are being harassed and persecuted. This single incident pretty much exemplified what is going on in Bangladesh and what is coming as well.” Well said.
It is noteworthy that the U.S. and Indian readouts of the call between
@POTUS
and
@narendramodi
differed so dramatically on the
#Bangladesh
issue. It would be useful to get clarification from the
@whitehouse
on this discrepancy.
The U.S. should work with allies and partners and use the influence that it has within the
@UN
,
@IMFNews
,
@WorldBank
,
@ADB_HQ
and elsewhere to finally put pressure on PM Hasina to step down and allow for free and fair elections.
@TheDavidBergman
It’s hard to understand PM Hasina’s theory of victory. With her regime lacking legitimacy, with increasingly broad opposition, with a cratering economy and with evaporating global support, she can’t shoot her way out of this crisis. A rational actor would cut their losses.
The triumphant visit by
@ChiefAdviserGoB
to NY shows how out of touch and isolated India is vis a vis
#Bangladesh
. The global community understands the need for reform in Bangladesh and wants the interim government to succeed.
After fleeing Dhaka Aug 5, Hasina remains
Concerted western effort to prop up Islamist forces in Bangladesh. In principle nothing wrong in supporting a developing country but should it be to a government that has gained power through street riots and opened doors to Islamic extremism. Why not wait and watch? Strange that
One of the primary reasons why
#Bangladesh
's Monsoon Revolution succeeded in overthrowing the Hasina regime was that it was a broad-based popular movement united around a single goal. It was an indigenous movement that drew support from the Bangladeshi diaspora and like minded
Here's a re-write for you: With widespread domestic and international support,
#Bangladesh
's civilian interim government replaces partisan local government officials to depoliticize administration as it embarks upon reforms aimed at creating conditions for the country's first
A military-chosen administration with no constitutional legitimacy or mandate fires all elected officials across Bangladesh in a single swoop. Instead of democratization, the process of deep centralization of power has begun, in keeping with the military's traditional preference.
To date,
@volker_turk
has taken a proactive approach to recent events in
#Bangladesh
. He needs political support from member states to proceed further. With Congress advocating for action,
@StateDept
should join with others to call for
@UNHumanRights
Commission of Inquiry.
Letter from the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights to the government of Bangladesh - to which the government responded (see further below) - raises the issue of "peacekeeping". This is important, as it is a key benefit which the army and police obtain. Important leverage.
The
Through its actions, the Hasina regime has acted like North Korea, Belarus, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and other international pariahs. It should be treated as such and the U.S. should abandon a misguided policy of engagement in
#Bangladesh
.
There are few commentators on
#Bangladesh
who are as consistently wrong as
@chellaney
. It stretches credulity to term the Aug 5 change in government as a "coup." The author is reading from an old script insofar as his characterization of the Bangladesh Army and is drawing
My op-ed: Packing Hasina off to India was not a spur-of-the-moment military decision. Rather, it was central to a well-thought-out plan for an indirect army takeover of Bangladesh.
The international costs of killing a sitting prime minister in a coup, or
What is Bengali for chutzpah? Those who attacked the U.S. and others for alleged interference in
#Bangladesh
now want India to dictate terms to the interim government? I guess where you stand depends on where you sit.
Time is running out for the U.S. and other like minded countries to demonstrate that
#Bangladesh
will pay a price for holding a make believe election. Other would be autocrats are also watching whether the
@albd1971
will be able to defy the international community.
@StateDept
Those who supported the Hasina regime and opposed the pro-democracy movement in
#Bangladesh
are doing all they can to paint the interim government in a bad light. Ultimately every government has to bear responsibility for what happens on their watch. Recognizing this,
This letter to
@SecBlinken
is the most significant expression to date of Congressional concern about
#Bangladesh
. It will be hard for the Biden Administration to ignore this bicameral letter. Thanks to
@SenMarkey
for his leadership.
Here are the names of the individuals involved in this action that undermines
#Bangladesh
's democratic election process: Judge Zulfiker Hayat and Prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim. The U.S. should cancel their visas.
How much longer will this charade continue?
@drSaimaWazed
was never qualified for this job. By remaining in this position she discredits
@WHOSEARO
and undermines its work. She should resign or be fired.
@WHO
@DrTedros
@State_IO
Scenes from the ongoing
@WHOSEARO
workshop for strengthening capacity of countries to address the impact of
#ClimateChange
on
#MentalHealth
, in
#Indonesia
🇮🇩
In my remarks, I spoke of
@WHO
's five recommendations to prepare for, and respond to, this growing emergency:
-
“the decay emanating from the ruling party is growing as pungent as the stench of tear gas and burning vehicles that wreathed the streets.”
#bangladesh
At the risk of stating the obvious, former
#Bangladesh
PM Hasina should not be allowed to enter the U.S. under any circumstances. If she possesses a valid visa, it should be revoked immediately. She should not enjoy the freedoms that she denied to others.
@StateDept
@TheDavidBergman
Meanwhile, since July 18,
@usembassydhaka
has only issued travel warnings and has not released any statements on the situation. For its part,
@StateDept
has only issued anodyne responses to questions at press briefings. The U.S. public silence has been shameful.
Amidst all the uncertainty in
#Bangladesh
, the renewed appreciation for freedom of speech is unmistakable. My Bangladeshi friends all stress their relief that they no longer have to worry about everything they say and write. This
#freedom
must be preserved at all costs.
“A free election is impossible when the government stifles free expression and systematically incapacitates the opposition, critics, and activists through arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearance, harassment, and intimidation.”
A statement from
@rtoforg
on
#Bangladesh
’s upcoming elections. In the absence of free, fair and inclusive elections, it can no longer be business as usual for the U.S. and other democratic states.
From Ali Riaz: “the question is whether the international community, which demanded a free, fair, peaceful, inclusive, and participatory election, will be fooled by the machinations of the ruling AL and leave democracy behind like 2014 and 2018.”
In light of recent events in
#Bangladesh
, it is high time for
@UNHumanRights
to appoint a commission of inquiry into the violence. This is the least that the international community can do to honor the victims of the recent violence.
#Bangladesh
should allow
@trahmanbnp
to return home, deal with his legal issues, see his mother, and engage in political activity if he so chooses. His future role (if any) should be determined by his party and the voters when elections are held. No more, no less.