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Controversies related to Sheikh Hasina

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Sheikh Hasina
First Premiership (1996–2001)
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Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has faced many criticism and controversies over years.

The Padma Bridge graft scandal involved the ruling Awami League government that allegedly sought, in exchange for the awarding of the construction contract, a large amount of money from the Canadian construction company SNC-Lavalin. The allegations were subsequently found to be false and without merit, and a Canadian court subsequently dismissed the case.[1]

As a result of the allegations, the World Bank pulled out of a project to provide funding for the Padma Bridge, citing corruption concerns, cancelling ৳10241.346 crore (US$860 million) of credit for the 6-kilometre-long (3.7 mi) road-rail bridge over the Padma River.[2] One of the individuals implicated was Minister of Communications Syed Abul Hossain who subsequently resigned and was later acquitted of any wrongdoing.[3] On 11 July 2012, BNP General-Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Awami League government should make public a letter sent by the World Bank, wherein the Bank brought graft charges against Hasina and three other figures.[4] On 17 January 2016, Hasina stated that a managing director of a bank in the United States provoked the World Bank to cancel the loan.[5] The bridge was eventually constructed with the government's own funds and was inaugurated in June 2022 at a cost of ৳30193.39 crore (US$2.5 billion),[6] much higher than the original projected cost of ৳10161.75 crore (US$850 million).[7]

On 24 January 2017, in a speech in parliament, Prime Minister Hasina blamed Muhammad Yunus for the World Bank's pulling out of the project.[8] According to her, Yunus lobbied with the former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to persuade the World Bank to terminate the loan.[9] On 10 February 2017, a justice of the Superior Court of Ontario dismissed the bribery-conspiracy case for lack of any evidence.[1]

In 2018, Hasina's government passed the controversial Digital Security Act, 2018, under which any criticism deemed inappropriate by the government over the internet or any other media could be punished by prison terms of various degrees. This was heavily criticised both domestically and internationally for suppressing people's freedom of speech, as well as undermining press freedom in Bangladesh.[a]

In December 2022, the Hasina government ordered the closure of 191 websites accused of publishing "anti-state news" citing intelligence reports. Dhaka district authorities ordered the closure of Dainik Dinkal, which is owned by Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Dainik Dinkal appealed the order to the Bangladesh Press Council who dismissed their appeal in February 2022, resulting in its closure.[15] The move has been criticised by government opponents who claim the move is an attempt to stifle opposition to the government.[15] The government claimed Dainik Dinkal violated articles 10, 11, 16, 21(1)(kha) of the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973 as it had irregular publication and its publisher was a convicted felon.[16]

In June 2024, Sheikh Hasina paid a state visit to New Delhi, during which Bangladesh and India signed ten bilateral agreements, including one on allowing India a rail corridor to its northeastern states through Bangladeshi territory. This led to widespread criticism in Bangladesh on the issue of the country's sovereignty, accusing Hasina of "selling the country to India".[17][18]

Domestically, Hasina has been criticised as being too close to India, often at the cost of Bangladesh's sovereignty.[17][18] She is seen by her critics as a manifestation of India's interference in Bangladeshi politics,[19][20] which they have described as the main source of her power.[21][22]

Controversies

July Massacre

Further information: July massacre

The July massacre was one of the most violent crackdowns in Bangladesh's history, reportedly ordered by Sheikh Hasina's government to suppress a student-led protest. The protest began as a peaceful demonstration demanding reforms to the education system, but it quickly escalated into a nationwide movement. On 15 July 2024, security forces, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police, opened fire on unarmed students, many of whom were between the ages of 5 to 30 years old.[23]

The interim government officially reported 875 deaths. [24] Many more were injured or arrested. Witnesses reported that government forces used excessive force, including live ammunition and tear gas, in areas where peaceful protests were ongoing.[25]

The massacre drew widespread condemnation from both domestic and international bodies, with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International calling for independent investigations into the killings. The government has been accused of trying to cover up the true extent of the violence by pressuring hospitals to underreport casualties and censoring media coverage.[26]

Election manipulation

Sheikh Hasina's government has faced repeated allegations of manipulating elections to maintain power. The 2014 general election, boycotted by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led to a one-sided result, with the ruling Awami League winning most seats uncontested.[27] Similar accusations surfaced in the 2018 election, with widespread reports of vote rigging and obstruction of opposition voters.[28]

Suppression of opposition and media

Under Hasina's government, opposition leaders, particularly from the BNP, have been frequently arrested or harassed. The imprisonment of BNP leader Khaleda Zia on corruption charges is seen by many[29] as a politically motivated move to weaken the opposition.[30][31] Hasina's government has also cracked down on media freedom, using laws like the Digital Security Act to detain journalists and activists critical of the regime.[32]

Extrajudicial arrests and disappearances

Further information: Enforced disappearance in Bangladesh and Aynaghar

Human rights groups have condemned Sheikh Hasina's government for its use of midnight arrests and enforced disappearances, particularly targeting political opponents, activists, and journalists. Security forces like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are accused of abducting individuals from their homes during the night, many of whom were never seen again.[33] Victims of these disappearances often included opposition members or activists who were critical of the regime. These practices have led to international outcry, with the United States imposing sanctions on RAB in 2021 for its involvement in human rights violations.[34]

Money laundering and allegations of corruption in infrastructure projects

Sheikh Hasina's government has been accused of corruption and money laundering, especially in relation to large infrastructure projects such as the Padma Bridge and Dhaka Metro Rail. In 2012, the World Bank withdrew its funding from the Padma Bridge project, citing allegations of a conspiracy to commit corruption involving senior government officials.[35] Though the charges were later dismissed in a Canadian court, critics argue that corruption still plagued the project. Similarly, the Dhaka Metro Rail project has faced accusations of cost inflation and kickbacks involving government officials, further fueling concerns of misuse of state funds.[36]

Renaming of public institutions and allegations of dynastic politics

See also: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's cult of personality

A prominent point of criticism during Sheikh Hasina's tenure has been the renaming of infrastructure, institutions, and public spaces in honor of her family members, particularly her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh.[37] Major projects, such as the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, have either been renamed or established in his name. This practice has also extended to other family members, prompting critics to accuse Hasina of fostering a cult of personality and reinforcing dynastic politics.[38]

Notes

  1. ^ Multiple references:[10][11][12][13][14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Canada court finds no proof of Padma bridge bribery conspiracy". The Daily Star. 11 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  2. ^ "World Bank cancels Bangladesh bridge loan over corruption". BBC News. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Bridge-mending". The Economist. 27 February 2012. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  4. ^ Ahmed, Hafez. "PM among 3 charged with graft by WB : Fakhrul". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  5. ^ "A bank's MD provoked WB to scrap Padma Bridge funding". The Daily Star. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  6. ^ Farhin Antara, Nawaz; Mamun, Shohel (25 June 2022). "PM: Padma bridge belongs to people of Bangladesh". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  7. ^ Islam, Jahidul (12 December 2020). "How Padma Bridge cost surged to Tk30,000cr". The Business Standard. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  8. ^ "PM blames Yunus for cancellation of WB's Padma financing". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Nobel laureate Yunus got Hillary Clinton to stop WB funding for Padma Bridge, says Hasina". bdnews24.com. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Tool ripe for abuse: HRW". The Daily Star. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  11. ^ "New Digital Security Act in Bangladesh deepens threats to free expression". 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Bangladesh: New Digital Security Act is attack on freedom of expression". Amnesty International. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Digital Security Act 2018: young generation speaks". New Age. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Bangladesh editors protest 'chilling' Digital Security Act". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Bangladesh shuts down main opposition newspaper". Agence France-Presse. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Now Dainik Dinkal faces shutdown". Dhaka Tribune. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  17. ^ a b "PM Hasina bins criticism of selling country to India". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Sheikh Hasina doesn't sell the country, say prime minister". Prothomalo. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  19. ^ Singh, Sushant (12 December 2024). "Modi's Politics Hinder Neighborhood Ties". Foreign Policy.
  20. ^ "Sheikh Hasina poses a Bangladesh conundrum for India". BBC News. 2 September 2024.
  21. ^ "India's 'concern' over Bangladesh's internal affairs and beyond". The Daily Star. 10 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Why can't India accept that the people of Bangladesh toppled Sheikh Hasina?". The Daily Star. 14 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Bangladesh: Security Forces Target Unarmed Students". Human Rights Watch. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  24. ^ Asadullah, Muhammad; Ritu, Nousheen Sharmila (2024-09-20). "Prosecuting the perpetrators of July–August massacre: A case for restorative justice". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  25. ^ "Bangladesh protests turn deadly: Students killed by security forces". The daily star. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Bangladesh: July 2024 Massacre and Government Suppression". The daily star. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  27. ^ "One-Sided Bangladesh Election Raises Fear of One-Party Rule". Voice of America. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Bangladesh election marred by 'vote-rigging', deadly violence and media crackdown fears". The Independent. 30 December 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Bangladesh Opposition Leader Zia in Prison a Year". Human Rights Watch. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia jailed amid clashes". BBC News. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Violent protests as opposition leader is jailed in Bangladesh". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Journalists fear Digital Security Act in Bangladesh". DW. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2024.[dead link‍]
  33. ^ "Bangladesh: End Disappearances and Secret Detentions". Human Rights Watch. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  34. ^ Mahmud, Faisal (15 December 2021). "Are sanctions on RAB a shift in US policy towards Bangladesh?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024.
  35. ^ "World Bank cancels Bangladesh bridge loan over corruption". BBC News. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Mega-projects, mega-corruption, mega-greed". The Daily Star. 14 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Ode to the father: Bangladesh's political personality cult". France 24. 4 January 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Bangladesh's growing political personality cult around 'Father of the Nation'". The Hindu. 5 January 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
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