Bangladesh: Awami League Event Blocked; Interim Government to Consider Sheikh Hasina’s Extradition

On Thursday, the Awami League’s event to honor the assassination of former president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka was disrupted. Armed men blocked roads and intersections leading to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, which had been damaged and set on fire after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left for India on August 5.

These men prevented Awami League supporters from gathering at the museum for the anniversary, and several people were reportedly beaten. At least 10 individuals were detained by the police. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had canceled the National Mourning Day, which was previously observed on August 15.

Police set up barricades near the museum, and BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) students and activists were seen checking for Awami League supporters. The army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were also deployed to secure the area.

Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation for his role in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war, was killed in 1975 along with his family at his Dhaka home. Sheikh Hasina and her sister survived as they were in Germany at the time.

From her undisclosed location in India, Hasina urged people to observe National Mourning Day through her son. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s acting foreign minister, Touhid Hossain, revealed that the interim government is considering whether to request Hasina’s extradition from India due to rising legal cases against her, including murder charges. Hossain mentioned that this request could create a delicate situation for the Indian government, though he did not provide further details. Indian officials have yet to respond.

Hasina and her cabinet members face accusations in two murder cases and a third case involving torture and genocide during recent protests. The BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, protested at Central Shaheed Minar demanding a trial for Hasina, while Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing gathered at Shahbagh to prevent any further incidents involving the Awami League.

In other news, the interim government is expected to expand by adding at least two new advisers on Friday. President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin confirmed the swearing-in ceremony for the new members will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, although he did not specify how many new advisers will be included. Yunus had previously been sworn in with 16 advisers on August 8.