Bangladesh:
The Revolt and Those Who Want to Put it Out

Aug 19, 2024

This article is translated from the August 13 issue, #2924 of Lutte Ouvrière (Workers Struggle), the paper of the Trotskyist group of that name active in France.

In Bangladesh, the military leadership finally decided on Tuesday, August 6 to hand over power to a transitional government headed by Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and a popular figure among the opposition. This government also includes two leaders of the student movement, placed at the head of secondary ministries, Telecommunications and Sport.

In this country of 170 million inhabitants, the change of government is the result of more than a month of demonstrations and student riots. The movement had started against the restoration of reserved job quotas in the civil service, which favored the ruling party’s circles, while young graduates were suffering massive unemployment. But the number and determination of the demonstrators grew enormously in the face of increasing violence from the authorities. Arbitrary arrests, torture, and police shootings (including of children), which have claimed up to 400 lives, have further multiplied the number of protesters and changed their objectives. On August 5, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators converged on her residence, putting an end to the regime of the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, who had just fled by helicopter.

Today, the police, hated after the killings of demonstrators, have deserted the streets, and former demonstrators, often students or even high-school pupils, direct traffic, mark crosswalks, protect public monuments or the homes of Hindus who are targeted.

It’s clear that this population, which has overthrown a regime, could take the running of society into its own hands.

For the time being, however, the majority is probably unaware of the possibilities offered by the situation. And while the revolt has won a victory over repression, the state remains in place in the service of the possessing classes, and the generals retain control of it. After considering forming an interim government themselves, they decided it would be better to leave it to civilians favored by the demonstrators and dismissed certain high-ranking officers who had compromised too much with the old regime.

The importance of the working class in Bangladesh and its determination were evident in major strikes for higher wages, last October in the textile industry, and two years ago in the tea plantations. It is not likely to be content for long to see social violence hidden behind the benevolent figure of Muhammad Yunus.