Non-cooperation movement (2024)

History

On 4 August, thousands of protesters gathered at the Shahbagh intersection in the morning, obstructing it as a form of civil disobedience to demand the government's resignation.

At least 97 people died nationwide in confrontations, shootings, and pursuits related to the Non-cooperation movement. Fourteen police officers were killed across the country, with 13 deaths occurring at the Enayetpur police station in Sirajganj. Another officer was killed in Eliotganj, Comilla. Twenty-seven police facilities were attacked and vandalized, and a hundred policemen were injured in these incidents, according to an official statement by the Bangladesh Police.

In Dhaka, unidentified individuals set fire to and damaged various vehicles, including cars, ambulances, motorcycles, and buses, at the Bangladesh Medical University during the protests. Around 4.30 p.m., 11th-grade student Golam Nafiz was shot by the police in Dhaka Farmgate area, whose photo of being taken to the hospital on rickshaw went viral on internet, creating high outrage by netizens. By 12:00 p.m., users across the country reported internet inaccessibility. The government ordered the closure of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and all other Meta-owned services, directing internet service providers to comply after 1:00 p.m. Later, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A. Arafat confirmed that some social media platforms were temporarily blocked to prevent the spread of rumors amid protests. An indefinite nationwide curfew was imposed starting at 6:00 p.m. Additionally, all courts were also ordered to close indefinitely.

The government declared a three-day general holiday starting from 5 August, during which banks will also remain closed. The Students Against Discrimination have confirmed their intention to march towards Dhaka on 6 August to demand the Prime Minister's resignation. The Bangladesh University Teachers' Network proposed a framework for an interim government, suggesting it be composed of teachers, judges, lawyers, and representatives from civil society, reflecting the views of various civil and political groups for a democratic transition.

Long March to Dhaka

Asif Mahmud, a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, announced that their march to Dhaka had been rescheduled to 5 August, instead of 6 August. He called on protesters and civilians nationwide to march toward the capital and participate in civil disobedience. Several former Bangladesh Army officers, including former chief of staff Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, held a press briefing urging soldiers to return to camps and refrain from getting involved in the political crisis or being used against civilians.

Retired Brigadier general M. Sakhawat Hossain stated that there was significant unease among the troops, which likely pressured the chief of army staff as soldiers were deployed and witnessing the events. Retired officers, including Brigadier general Mohammad Shahedul Anam Khan, defied the curfew on Monday and took to the streets, with Khan noting that the army did not intervene. In response to calls for a march to Dhaka, DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman warned of zero tolerance, stating that legal action would be taken against curfew violators.

The Students Against Discrimination rejected the curfew and encouraged everyone to march towards the Ganabhaban and Prime minister's office.

Reports indicated Sheikh Hasina had been moved to a secure location. On the same day, up to 135 people, including 24 police officers, were killed during protests.

Same day, at around 3:00 p.m. (UTC+6), Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Widespread celebrations and violence occurred following her removal, while the military and President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the formation of an Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Outcome

Resignation of Sheikh Hasina

On 5 August 2024, at around 3:00 p.m., Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled the country on a helicopter with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, to India, arriving in Delhi via Agartala. Although she intended to record a speech, she did not have the opportunity to do so. Reports indicated that in a meeting with security officials on 4 August, Hasina insisted on staying in power by using force against what she called "terrorists". However, military leaders warned her that the country would be approaching a civil war if they fired on the protesters. As she was determined to stay, the military leaders met her again on the next morning and concluded that her safety could no longer be guaranteed as protesters were soon to reach the Ganabhaban. Senior police officers had also warned her that their forces were running out of ammunition. She finally agreed to resign after talking to her close relatives. Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, later said that his mother had begun considering resignation as early as 3 August but was only convinced to do so by close relatives who had been approached by senior military and police officials, according to media reports.

Storming of Ganabhaban

Shortly after Sheikh Hasina's departure, at around 3:00 p.m., protesters reached the gates of the Ganabhaban and entered the Prime Minister's residence looting, vandalizing, and destroying numerous items, including furniture. They rummaged office files and sat on her bed as well as her chair to take selfies. Some protesters ate food and stole live animals, while others looted Hasina's luxury Dior suitcase and her sarees.

Sheikh Hasina's escape

Reports indicated that Hasina, along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, fled Ganabhaban aboard a military helicopter before transferring to a C-130 Hercules aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force. An internet blackout was enforced to hinder the tracking of her movements. Initial reports suggested Hasina's flight, carrying the callsign AJAX1431, would land in Agartala, in the Indian state of Tripura. AJAX1431 switched off its transponder at around 17:00 local time over Lucknow, rendering the aircraft untraceable. Shortly, she was reported to have landed at the Hindan Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi, and was reportedly received by the Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval at the base. Her arrival in Delhi was subsequently confirmed by Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar. Sheikh Hasina is living in a secret location within India under tight security.

Flightradar24 reported that her flight was, at one point, the most tracked flight worldwide, with other civilian aircraft traveling into and out of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka also being highly tracked. She is expected to proceed to London for her safe passage and seek political asylum in the United Kingdom, where Rehana's eldest daughter, Labour Party MP Tulip Siddiq was Economic Secretary to the Treasury under the incumbent Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while her youngest daughter Azmina Siddiq works for Control Risks as a global risk analysis editor. However, such plans are believed to be on hold due to indications from the UK government that she would not receive legal protection from investigations into the violence in Bangladesh.

Arrest of Awami League leaders

In addition to Sheikh Hasina, several figures associated with her administration and the Awami League fled or attempted to flee Bangladesh. This group included Hasan Mahmud, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the former Minister of state for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Ziaul Ahsan, the former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre. All were detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 6 August. On 7 August, two more Awami League leaders were arrested near the Darshana border checkpoint while trying to flee abroad. On 13 August, Salman F Rahman, former Adviser for Private Industry and Investment to the Prime Minister, and Anisul Huq, former Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, were arrested while attempting to flee by boat at Sadarghat. On 28 August, former Minister of Commerce Tipu Munshi was arrested after a murder case was filed against him over the death of a protester in Rangpur. On September 10, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, the former Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser to Hasina, was arrested by the DB in the Gulshan area.

On 14 August, the general secretary of Barguna district Awami League was arrested on charges of conspiring to foment unrest. This followed the emergence of a phone call recording on social media in which he appeared to be communicating with Sheikh Hasina, who was by then in India. On 16 August, Ramesh Chandra Sen, former Minister of Water Resources, was arrested in his residence in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila. On 19 August, former Minister of Social Welfare and Awami League joint secretary Dipu Moni was arrested in Baridhara. On 24 August, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, the former General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, died from a heart attack while climbing a mountain in the Indian state of Meghalaya as part of his efforts to flee Bangladesh.

On 21 August, the interim government ordered the revocation of diplomatic passports issued to Sheikh Hasina as well as her ministers and MPs. On August 29, the interim government issued an ordinance revoking a 2009 law that granted special privileges to the family of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, including Sheikh Hasina.

Numerous local officials nationwide also deserted their posts following Sheikh Hasina's overthrow. This included the mayor of Khulna City Corporation, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, who along with most of the city's 41 councillors, went into hiding, leading to a paralysis of the city government's functions. At least 323 municipal mayors, 495 Upazila Parishad chairs, 53 District Council chairs, and 12 city corporation mayors were subsequently removed from office by the interim government.

Casualties and damages

Reprisal attacks against Awami League supporters and police

On the day of Sheikh Hasina's resignation, protesters vandalized statues of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the former president of Bangladesh, in Dhaka. They also set the Awami League's headquarters in Dhaka ablaze. The vandalizing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's statues has been compared with that of Saddam Hussain's statue in Baghdad on 2003. Houses or businesses of several Awami League leaders and activists were attacked. The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, operated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence in Dhanmondi, where he and his family were assassinated by military personnel in 1975, known as Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, were burnt and ransacked by the demonstrators. Two pro-government television stations were also forced off-air after being torched by demonstrators, including ATN Bangla. The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, which houses the Parliament of Bangladesh, was also stormed by protesters, who took 40 weapons from the building's security. These were later returned by students. The house of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh was vandalized by rioters who climbed the walls. Sheikh Rehana's residence in Gulshan, Dhaka, was also looted. The Mujibnagar Memorial Complex in Meherpur was also vandalized, resulting in damage to 600 sculptures. Incidents of vandalism were also recorded at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, 22 branches of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and the Shasi Lodge and the Zainul Park in Mymensingh. The 19th-century Bir Chandra Public Library in Comilla was also looted and burned, leading to the loss of several rare books.

At least 232 people were reported to have been killed in the three days that followed Hasina's resignation. This included at least 29 officials of the Awami League and associated groups as well as their relatives. An Awami League office in Chittagong was also set ablaze by miscreants. Two vehicles of the BGB were set ablaze by the rioters and five were killed in clashes between BGB and demonstrators. Jails in Satkhira and Sherpur districts were attacked, leading to prisoner escapes. In Satkhira alone, 596 prisoners escaped, although more than 400 of them voluntarily returned within days. An Awami League leader in Satkhira was hacked to death along with four associates after fatally shooting three members of a crowd that attacked his residence. An installation of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force was also vandalized and partially burnt. Ansar retaliated by killing two demonstrators. In Bogra, a police station was attacked and an Awami League office was set ablaze. A violent mob attacked Baniachang police station in Habiganj and set it ablaze. Police retaliated killing six rioters. A total of 150 people, including police personnel were wounded in the incident.

Six people were killed and more than a hundred wounded in Kushtia when police opened fire on rioters. Seven police stations were burnt and destroyed in Chittagong. A demonstrator was fatally shot by the police in Manikganj, following the vandalism of a local police station. Despite the peaceful nature of a victory march in Srimangal, police intervention resulted in injuries to more than a hundred participants. In Jessore, at least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were killed after a hotel belonging to a district leader of the Awami League was set on fire. Two union council chairs were beaten to death by mobs in separate incidents in Khulna and Chandpur. Clashes between BGB and demonstrators led to the deaths of six people, including a BGB soldier in Gazipur, where a protest outside a jail also resulted in the escape of 209 inmates. In Kishoreganj, a clash between Awami League leaders and activists led to the death of five individuals and left hundreds injured, including journalists.

Operations at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were suspended for eight hours. The Higher Secondary Certificate examinations, which were originally scheduled for 11 August, had to be postponed. This decision was made after the question papers suffered damage during the attacks on police stations.

On 10 August, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) dismissed the head of its Bauphal upazila branch following complaints about his alleged involvement in the violence and looting.

Violence against minorities

Hours after Hasina's departure, reports surfaced about attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh as due to the collapse of governmental law enforcement agencies. Haradhan Roy, a Hindu councilor from the Awami League in Rangpur, and Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee, a Hindu school teacher in Dhaka were killed. According to the Investigation conducted by Prothom Alo correspondents across 64 districts and 67 upazilas between 5–20 August 2024, 1,068 attacks on the minority community occurred in 49 districts. Two members of the Hindu community were killed in the violence, and a total of 912 attacks were documented. Of these, in at least 506 cases, the victims were affiliated with Awami League. The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that from August 4 to August 20, a total of 2,010 incidents (including 69 temples) of attacks on minorities took place across the country within this 16-day period. Among the incidents, homes of 157 families were vandalised, looted, and set on fire, while some of their businesses were also attacked.

According to most observers, the attacks were largely politically motivated where victims were primarily Awami League leaders, activists, and police. However, many Hindus with no political affiliation were also affected. The coordinators of the student movement denounced these attacks and urged the public not to participate in such violence.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus attempted to flee to India after being attacked, however, they were turned back by the border guards from both countries. Indian Border Security Force (BSF) arrested nearly a dozen Bangladeshis who were trying to cross the border to escape the violence and political unrest. In Lalmonirhat, an Awami League leader was seen spreading rumors, urging local Hindus to gather at the border with India and engage with Indian leaders who were expected to arrive there. Reportedly, he successfully assembled thousands of Hindus at the border before they were dispersed by the BGB and local police.

Meanwhile, students and members of the Muslim community, including madrasa students, were seen standing guard at temples and churches to protect them. Chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, also denounced the violence, stating that there was no room for discrimination in Bangladesh. The interim government also assured that it would "immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks".

Similar reports of Islamist mobs perpetrating violence against other minorities like Christians & Ahmadiyyas alongside vandalising tombs of Sufi saints emerged in various parts of the country in midst of collapse of law and order. Reports of houses belonging to ethnic minorities like the Kurukh and Chakma being torched by mobs have also emerged.

Aftermath

Restoration of services

As per reports, broadband internet services were reinstated approximately at 1:00 p.m. on 5 August, followed by the restoration of cellular internet access after 2:00 p.m. However, access to social media platforms continued to be restricted. The curfew was rescinded on 6 August, and offices, businesses, and schools were permitted to resume operations on the same day.

Interim government formation

On 5 August, the Chief of Army Staff, Waker-uz-Zaman, convened a meeting with representatives from BNP, Jatiya Party (Ershad), and Jamaat-e-Islami and called for the creation of an interim government within 48 hours, excluding the Awami League. Several subsequent reports indicated that Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus had been approached to be the head of the interim government by the student protesters. Other possible names for the head of government included Salahuddin Ahmed, a former governor of Bangladesh Bank, retired General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, and lawyer Sara Hossain. The nomination of Yunus, who accepted the advisory role in the interim government, has also been supported by prominent figures within the student movement. In addition, Waker-uz-Zaman pledged an investigation by the military into the preceding incidents of violence and issued an order prohibiting security forces from opening fire on crowds.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin issued an order for the release of all students who had been detained during the protests, as well as Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and chairperson of the BNP. Zia has been a long-standing political adversary of Sheikh Hasina. This decision was made unanimously at a meeting attended by major opposition parties and the heads of the armed services. On 6 August, in response to an ultimatum from the student movement that warned of further demonstrations, Shahabuddin dissolved the Jatiya Sangsad. Additionally, a reorganization was carried out within the Bangladesh Armed Forces, while Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun was removed as Inspector General of the Bangladesh Police. Following a meeting with student leaders on 6 August, Shahabuddin formally appointed Yunus on 7 August as head of the interim government, Yunus, who was in Paris, returned to Dhaka on 8 August and was inaugurated later that day along with the rest of his cabinet at the Bangabhaban. Among those who joined the interim government as advisers were two leaders of the student movement, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud.

Security crisis

Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, police were absent from their duties, leading to a surge in burglaries and thefts in residential areas of Dhaka. These incidents caused widespread panic among residents, who were compelled to guard their neighborhoods at night. Reports indicted the presence of robbers on 6 and 7 August. During this time, banks and ATM booths were nearly out of cash due to the security crisis. In response, anti-robbery committees were established throughout the city. Additionally, residents used social media platforms to prevent further burglaries. Numerous weapons were also looted from police stations and security installations nationwide. By 3 September, authorities had recovered at least 3,880 firearms, 286,353 rounds of ammunition, 22,201 tear gas shells, and 2,139 sound grenades. More than 500 prisoners set free by mobs during the violence also several banned terror outfit chiefs including ABT Chief Jashimuddin Rahmani released on Bail.

Constitutional crisis

A constitutional crisis emerged in Bangladesh on 5 August 2024, after the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, resigned and went to India as protesters stormed her residence and office in Dhaka during a massive mass uprising. Hasina's resignation triggered the constitutional crisis because the Constitution of Bangladesh has no provisions for an interim government or any other form of government in the event that the prime minister resigns and the parliament is dissolved. Although Article 123 of the constitution mandates general elections within 90 days following the dissolution of parliament, no clear guidelines exist for the powers and structure of an interim government.

Three days after her exile, an interim government was formed, with Muhammad Yunus sworn in as Chief Adviser. Following the oath-taking of the interim government, The interim government has established a Constitutional Reform Commission and National Consensus Commission to prepare a roadmap for the next election.

Prosecutions

On 13 August, former Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari was named as a primary accused in a murder case related to the killing of an auto-rickshaw driver in Feni during the protests on 4 August. Approximately 400 other Awami League members and officials were also charged in this case, including Feni Sadar Upazila Chair Shusen Chandra Shil, the Awami League President in the upazila, and Feni Municipality Mayor Nazrul Islam Swapan Miazi. On 16 August, murder complaints were filed against former MPs Shahadara Mannan Shilpi, Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad, and Mohammad Saiful Islam in connection with the deaths of students during protests on 5 August.

On 14 August, the father of a student killed during the protests filed a petition at the International Crimes Tribunal. The petition called for an investigation into charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against Sheikh Hasina and nine other individuals, including the General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, and former Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal over their role in the crackdown on the protests. The Awami League and its associated organizations were also named as accused in the petition. A formal investigation was initiated by the court later that day, and on 8 September, legal proceedings began to extradite Sheikh Hasina. On 15 August, two additional murder charges were filed against Sheikh Hasina and several of her associates in connection with the deaths of two individuals during the protests. On 19 August, Sheikh Hasina and 66 others were charged over the killing of a BNP ward leader in Dhaka North City Corporation during the protests on 4 August.

On 21 August, journalists Shakil Ahmed and his wife, Farzana Rupa, from the pro-Hasina channel Ekattor TV, were arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while flying to board a flight to Paris. They were suspected of instigating the killing of a garment worker during a demonstration in Uttara, Dhaka, on 5 August. Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders expressed concern over their arrest.

On 22 August, a United Nations (UN) team arrived in Bangladesh to discuss and understand the interim government's priorities for promoting human rights. A separate fact-finding team, to be dispatched later, will investigate human rights violations during the protests and unrest.

On 23 August, charges were filed against former State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque and at least 377 others for their role in an attack on the BNP office in Barisal on 5 August.

Reactions

Domestic

Muhammad Yunus, who was in Paris undergoing a medical procedure at the time of Hasina's departure, hailed her resignation as Bangladesh's "second Independence Day". He also committed to returning to Bangladesh "without delay", responding affirmatively to a request from the student movement to guide the interim government.

In her first public address following her release, Khaleda Zia commended "the brave people who were in a do-or-die struggle to make possible the impossible". She emphasized the need for restraint and advocated for "love and peace" as essential in the process of rebuilding Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman, who is currently serving as the acting chair of the BNP and is based in London, declared that "Hasina's resignation is a testament to the power of the people" and urged for "restraint". On 7 August, during a rally in Dhaka, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of BNP, called for the holding of fair elections within the next three months. On 13 August, the BNP formally requested the UN to conduct an international investigation into the killings during the protests. In a phone call with chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on 14 August, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said that such an investigation would come "very soon".

Sajeeb Wazed, the son and adviser of Sheikh Hasina, initially announced on 5 August that his mother intended to retire from politics. On 7 August, he amended this statement clarifying that both Hasina and the Awami League would continue to be active in the political landscape of Bangladesh. He further mentioned that she would return to the country once elections were declared. On 10 August, he claimed to Reuters that Hasina is still the Prime Minister as she did not get enough time to formally submit her resignation to the President, due to protesters advancing towards her official residence. Later in an interview published on 14 August, he expressed that the stand of the fifth Hasina ministry on the quota system was wrong and they should have supported the protesters from the first.

On 11 August, in what is said to be her first statement published by the Indian media after her fleeing to the country, Sheikh Hasina confirmed that she resigned and conceded defeat to avoid further bloodshed. She attributed her decision to resign to pressure from the United States and urged Awami League supporters to keep their morale high. Shortly thereafter, Wazed refuted the statement as "completely false and fabricated," emphasizing that Hasina "did not make any statement before or after leaving Dhaka". On 12 August, the Rumor Scanner Bangladesh investigated the matter and declared the reports about Sheikh Hasina's statement as fake and rumour. On 13 August, Hasina released her first confirmed statements since her overthrow, published by Wazed, calling for an investigation into the killings during the protests. She also insisted that the police and the Awami League were victims of "terrorist aggression".

International

• Canada: Foreign minister Melanie Joly called for "all parties to work together to promote the principles of democratic and inclusive governance, respect for human rights, and the rule of law." She supported a "peaceful way forward" to resolve the crisis.
• EU: Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell called for "calm and restraint" stating orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government is vital. He added that human rights and democratic principles must be respected.
• India: The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the Indian Government is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Bangladesh and assured continuous support to its citizens. It advised Indian nationals to exercise utmost caution while in Bangladesh and to maintain regular contact with the High Commission of India in Dhaka. In response to the situation, India has placed its Border Security Force on high alert along its 4,096 km border with Bangladesh. Additionally, India has suspended all train and flight services to Dhaka, while the state government of Meghalaya has enforced a night curfew in areas bordering Bangladesh. The movement of goods at the Petrapole border crossing has also been put on hold. The Delhi Police increased security at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. In his Independence Day address on 15 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced concern over the unrest in Bangladesh and expressed hope that "the situation gets normal there soon".
• Russia: The Foreign Ministry described the events as an "internal affair" of Bangladesh and expressed hope for a quick return to constitutional norms.
• UK: Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged the UN to conduct a comprehensive and independent probe into the recent events in Bangladesh. The spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the violence as "completely unacceptable", expressing deep concern over the "significant loss of life, including of students, children and law enforcement officers". Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi community in Whitechapel, London, celebrated the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power.
• UN: Secretary-General António Guterres called for a "peaceful, orderly and democratic transition". His spokesperson, Farhan Haq, advocated for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the violence.
• USA: The White House issued a call for the formation of a democratic interim government and has urged all involved parties to cease further violence and expedite the restoration of peace. It also denied accusations attributed to Sheikh Hasina that the US was involved in her overthrow. In an advisory released on 6 August, US citizens were strongly advised against traveling to Bangladesh due to "civil unrest, crime, and terrorism".