Public Outcry Erupts After Death of Child Rape Victim in Bangladesh

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence in Dhanmondi, known as 'Sudhasadan', along with multiple family-owned properties and 124 bank accounts. The decision was made by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Ghalib in response to a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission, according to local reports. The properties seized include assets belonging to Hasina's son, Sajib Wazed Joy, her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, and her sister, Sheikh Rehana. 'Sudhasadan' is notably named after Hasina's late husband, nuclear scientist MA Wazed Miah. These developments follow Hasina's flight to India after a mass student-led movement led to her ouster in August 2024. The interim government, spearheaded by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, has since been established. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has expressed strong objections to Hasina's alleged incendiary statements made during her time in India, claiming they incite instability and hurt national sentiments.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are facing a dire situation as militant groups reportedly force them to return to Myanmar to fight for the military accused of genocide against them, according to Sky News. The UN has classified the military's actions against the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority, as genocide following an exodus of around 700,000 individuals in 2017 due to horrific violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Many of the refugees, including children, are being abducted at gunpoint from makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar. A 19-year-old identified as Jaker stated that he was taken by force last year along with others, adding that "many of our Rohingya boys... were killed in battle." The escalating violence in the camps has led to an alarming rise in recruits for both the military and ethnic armed groups like the Arakan Army, which is gaining control in Rakhine. While some, like Abu Zar, express willingness to fight for their own rights, many are coerced into service. Reports indicate that 3,000 to 5,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh have joined armed factions, and the situation remains profoundly hazardous for those in the camps.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s independence, attributing the threat to internal strife. Speaking at an army memorial event in Dhaka, he noted that rising violent crime and political turmoil have created a climate where "miscreants" feel emboldened to act without consequence. "If you can't move beyond your differences... the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk," he stated, emphasizing the need for unity among stakeholders. Bangladesh has experienced a surge in crime and political unrest since the student-led uprising that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August. Recent months have seen security forces arrest over 8,600 individuals in an operation targeting alleged Hasina loyalists. General Waker highlighted the chaos as "manufactured" by internal discord, calling for investigations into military actions accused of human rights abuses. With Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus advocating for democratic reforms, the path to stability remains uncertain as the nation grapples with its tumultuous political landscape.