Late Wednesday night, a surreal scene unfolded in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area. Hundreds of students gathered, lighting candles to honor those who had fallen and injured during what is now referred to as the “July Revolution” in Bangladesh, which led to the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year autocratic rule.
Initially, the students observed the night in silence, with the flickering candlelight creating a somber atmosphere. Later, they sang solemn songs in remembrance of the more than 400 individuals who had lost their lives in recent weeks. Although the event, organized by students from various universities, appeared to be a commemoration, it carried a deeper message.
“It’s a signal to the remnants of a fascist autocratic regime that we remain vigilant,” said Abu Hamza Tareq, a student from a private university. “The Awami League, despite their disgraceful fall from power, is still trying to create chaos and destabilize the country.”
In the past few days, reports and social media chatter have suggested that the Awami League might attempt a “counterrevolution” on August 15 to overthrow the new interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Suddenly, several Awami League leaders and activists emerged from hiding, issuing calls to mobilize on the streets.
August 15 has been observed as National Mour ning Day in Bangladesh for the past 15 years during Hasina’s tenure, commemorating the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and a central figure in Bangladesh’s liberation war of 1971, along with most of his family members.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son who lives in the US and has been giving interviews to Indian media since his mother’s ousting, has called on party members to regroup. “The Awami League hasn’t been defeated; it remains a party of the people,” he stated.
In her first statement since being removed from power, Hasina urged her supporters to “pray for the forgiveness of souls by laying floral wreaths at the portrait of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.”
Reports indicate that Awami League activists and supporters have been instructed to gather in Dhaka to ensure a strong turnout for this event. If they convene in the capital, it will be their first major assembly there since Hasina’s removal. However, students, protesters, and other political parties perceive this not merely as a mourning event but as a possible attempt to destabilize the country’s nascent interim government.
Riding on minority issues
Concerns about August 15 have intensified on social media, fueled by a series of rallies from the country’s minority Hindu community over the past three days. These demonstrations in Dhaka have voiced several demands to the new interim government, including the establishment of special tribunals to expedite trials for those who persecute minorities, reserving 10 percent of parliamentary seats for minorities and enacting a minority protection law. The rallies, held at Shahbagh in central Dhaka, caused significant traffic disruptions on two consecutive days.
Since August 5, Hindu temples, homes, and businesses have been targeted, and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina’s former party, have been killed. It is important to note that nearly 150 people, including Awami League members, police, and protesters, have been killed in the violence following Hasina’s removal.
Nabila Idris, a university teacher, expressed support for the minority community’s right to protest and seek justice for the violence its members have suffered since Hasina’s fall. However, she is concerned that the violence against minorities is being framed through a communal rather than a political lens.
“Some Indian media outlets have exaggerated the violence against minorities and spread false reports, such as claims that dozens of Hindus have been killed in Bangladesh,” Idris said. “This seems to be an attempt to destabilize the interim government. I strongly suspect that Awami League activists and leaders are trying to leverage the issue, rallying behind the minorities to advance their own agenda.”
The protesting students, the main catalysts behind the July revolution, remain vigilant, like Tareq.
On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of students assembled at Shahbag Square in Dhaka for the “Rally of Harmony,” organized by various student groups. In that rally, student leaders on stage not only highlighted Bangladesh’s long history of communal harmony in which people of diverse religions have coexisted peacefully for generations, but also gave the message that they are ready to thwart “any evil force” that “tries to destabilize” the country again.
Ritu, a university student, joined her friend in chanting slogans at the event. She voiced her worries about the ousted Awami League potentially trying to return by targeting innocent people and religious minorities. “Our revolution is still in its early stages,” she stated. “Our adversaries are plotting a comeback by committing violence, but we remain vigilant on the streets.”
“Given the timing of August 15, the Chhatra League and Jubo League might target minorities to exploit the situation and then blame it on the protesters,” said Arif Sohel, a student leader from Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka. “We’ve seen the Awami League’s propaganda media stoking these fears. They are trying to undermine our movement by spreading false narratives about attacks on minorities.”
Arif emphasized that they will continue to protect minority communities and their places of worship from potential harm. They are also organizing road marches to sites where students were killed, lighting candles, and holding prayers in their memory.
“We are concerned they may create chaos and disrupt the lives of ordinary people. We will be on the streets to prevent such attempts and will keep demanding justice against the fascist Awami League,” Arif added.
Akhter Hossain, a prominent student leader, addressed the Shahbag rally on Wednesday, expressing concern about the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League, noting their history of carrying live weapons. “The live weapons they carried previously were never recovered. With such armament, they could act at any moment,” Akhter warned.
While he was skeptical about the Awami League’s current capacity to mobilize a large crowd, he stated, “We will remain on the streets to prevent any attempts at conspiracy.”
Does the Awami League have the capacity now?
In addition to student groups, various political parties have organized events across the capital and other parts of the country. The August 15 public holiday has been canceled.
“Awami League is a long-established political force. We firmly believe that their current leadership is what led to their downfall,” remarked Tabith Awal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). “We cannot predict what the Awami League might do or if they will make a comeback. But if they choose to, they certainly have the capability,” he added.
Despite the heightened tensions surrounding August 15, not everyone is alarmed.
“Barking dogs seldom bite,” said Shahab Enam Khan, a professor of International Relations at Jahangirnagar University. Despite the Awami League being ousted from power and the BNP’s prospects looking promising, Professor Khan suggested that the chances of violence on August 15 are slim unless there is an external effort to incite chaos.
“I am uncertain whether the Awami League will manage to make the comeback they are aiming for. The BNP will likely seek to avoid discrediting themselves, so while there may be some displays of strength, widespread violence seems unlikely,” Khan stated, adding, “However, the government must remain vigilant about any external influences on the situation.”
Political analyst Zobaida Nasreen, a professor of Anthropology at the University of Dhaka, stressed the importance of allowing people to pay their respects to Sheikh Mujib on August 15 if they wish.
“August 15 is a day of mourning, and Sheikh Mujib is deeply associated with our struggle for independence. I do not support undermining Sheikh Mujib due to Sheikh Hasina’s downfall,” she said. “We are striving to build a new and reformed Bangladesh through this uprising, and all parties involved must work to prevent a new wave of violence from emerging,” she added.
Meanwhile, as tensions and rallies persist across Bangladesh, there are increasing calls for a trial of Sheikh Hasina. A murder case had already been filed against the former prime minister, and on Wednesday, a new case was brought before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) accusing Hasina and eight others of alleged genocide, crimes against humanity and murder during the student movement from July 15 to August 5.
Tabith Awal believes that Sheikh Hasina should face trial in Bangladesh.“Since Sheikh Hasina’s alleged crimes occurred in Bangladesh and the accusations are from Bangladeshis, she should be tried under Bangladeshi law,” Awal said.
Masum Billah and Faisal Mahmud are reporters based in Dhaka.