The remains of 29 Awami League leaders and their relatives were discovered throughout violence-stricken Bangladesh on Tuesday, following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister and her subsequent departure to India. This occurred amidst student protests regarding a contentious quota system, which escalated into widespread demands for the 76-year-old leader’s resignation.
In Satkhira, violence erupted after Hasina’s resignation and departure on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals. Numerous residences and businesses owned by various Awami League leaders were reported to have been vandalized and looted, according to The Dhaka Tribune.
In Cumilla, a minimum of 11 individuals lost their lives due to mob violence. Among the deceased, six fatalities occurred when a three-storey residence belonging to former councillor Mohammad Shah Alam was set ablaze by assailants. The bodies of five teenagers were included in the 11 recovered from the premises during the night on Monday and the following morning.
On Monday, a mob targeted Shah Alam’s residence, with some individuals reportedly ascending to the third floor, as per eyewitness accounts. The mob ignited a fire on the ground level of the building. Subsequently, those who sought refuge on the third floor succumbed to smoke inhalation and were ultimately burned to death.
Additionally, the assault resulted in injuries to 10 individuals, one of whom is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. In a related incident, four individuals perished when a mob set fire to the residence of MP Shafiqul Islam Shimul on Tuesday. Their remains were discovered in various rooms, balconies, and on the rooftops of the house. Locals also located the bodies of two Jubo League leaders, affiliated with the Awami League youth wing. Notably, the body of Jubo League leader Mushfiqur Rahim was recovered from beneath a bridge in Sonagazi Upazila, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune.
In Bogra, two Jubo League leaders were brutally murdered by a mob. On Monday, six bodies were discovered in the residence of district Awami League Joint General Secretary Suman Khan, which had been set on fire by a mob in Lalmonirhat. The situation in Bangladesh remains precarious, with the death toll from the unrest exceeding 400. Sheikh Hasina has reportedly fled to India, leaving Bangladesh just an hour after resigning from her position.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, numerous Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been torched and vandalized. India has expressed concern over these developments, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stating that the ministry is closely monitoring the situation.
In the midst of the protests, Bangladesh established its interim government on Tuesday with the appointment of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser. Recognized as the ‘banker of the poor’, the 84-year-old Yunus was the preferred candidate for this position among the protesting students, and his selection followed an important meeting led by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
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