The newly appointed caretaker government in Bangladesh, headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has prioritized the restoration of law and order as the nation attempts to recover from the turmoil following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Hasina fled to India on Monday after weeks of violent protests forced her to step down. The interim government, sworn in on Thursday, is focused on stabilizing the country and organizing upcoming elections.
Retired Brigadier General M. Sakhawat Hossain, who serves as an adviser to the interior ministry, highlighted the urgent need to re-establish order in a phone interview with Reuters. “The interim government’s primary objective will be to restore law and order,” Hossain stated, adding, “Secondly, we must rebuild the trust in law enforcement agencies, which has significantly diminished.”
The departure of Hasina triggered a mix of celebration and chaos. Her official residence in Dhaka was looted, and statues of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader, were vandalized across the country. The nation has been gripped by disorder, vandalism, looting, and targeted attacks on minority groups, with television broadcasts showing extensive unrest.
Hossain expressed concern over reports of violence, particularly those directed at minority communities, though he suggested that some accounts might have been “slightly exaggerated.” In Bangladesh, Hindus comprising about 8% of the 170 million population, have historically backed Hasina’s Awami League party. On Friday, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council appealed to Yunus to safeguard minority communities, reporting that numerous Hindu homes, businesses, and temples had been attacked in recent days.
As the situation remains unstable, Human Rights Watch has urged Yunus’s government to address the widespread disorder. “It is imperative to quickly restore public order and protect vulnerable communities, including Hindu minorities who have faced attacks,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, Asia’s deputy director for Human Rights Watch.
In the absence of a fully operational police force, students have stepped in to maintain order in their neighbourhoods. Television footage showed groups of students, armed with sticks, setting up checkpoints, managing traffic, and monitoring prices at local markets.
The caretaker government faces substantial challenges in re-establishing stability. Many police stations across Bangladesh have been abandoned, with reports of weapons and ammunition being stolen from these posts. Nevertheless, some law enforcement activities are beginning to resume, supported by military forces.
“Today, we resumed operations with the assistance of military forces. I urge all citizens to visit the police station; we are here to serve you,” said Azimul Haque, the deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon division in Dhaka.
The student-led protests, which initially began over government job quotas, escalated into a broader movement against Hasina’s government. Approximately 300 people were killed, and thousands were injured during the unrest.