Location Bangladesh | Arrested >10000 | |
 | ||
Date 5 January 2015 – Ongoing Causes Unmet demands by the BNP stemming from the controversial 2014 Bangladeshi general election. Methods Violent protests, petrol and crude bombs. Death(s) Official account: 55 (as of 17 February 2015)
Dhaka Tribune account: 75 (as of 20 February 2015)
Unofficial account: >100 | ||
The 2015 Bangladeshi political crisis is an ongoing state of political turmoil between the two main political parties of Bangladesh, the Awami League (AL) led by prime minister Sheikh Hasina currently in power, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in opposition, led by three time former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Following the controversial 2014 Bangladeshi general election, the BNP raised several demands for a second election under a neutral caretaker government. By 5 January 2015, the first anniversary of the election, their demands were not met and the BNP initiated countrywide protests and traffic blockades. After many violent and fatal attacks on the public by alleged BNP protesters, the AL branded the BNP as terrorists and Khaleda Zia was forcefully confined to her office. The BNP then called the international community for support, but other nations were reluctant to intervene as the BNP's reputation was damaged by the violence and the international community reiterated that the disputes should be handled peacefully.
Contents
Events
On 5 January 2015, Khaleda Zia urged members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to halt road, rail and river transport immediately. This marked the start of the countrywide blockade.
On 18 February 2015, a Dhaka court issued arrest warrants for 23 BNP leaders and activists, including Joint Secretary-General Amanullah Aman, and former president of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Sultan Salauddin Taku, for two arson cases. It was passed because the accused did not appear in the court during the hearing.
On 20 February 2015, the Sylhet–Dhaka intercity train, bound for Sylhet at the time, was firebombed when it was driving through the Habiganj district. No casualties were reported as the driver sped away to safety. Reports of attempts to cause derailments has also been reported.
On 25 February 2015, a special Judge Court in Bangladesh issued a warrant to arrest Khaleda Zia in two graft cases involving over USD 650,000 after she had repeatedly failed to appear for the hearings. On 4 March 2015 the court upheld the arrest warrants issued against Zia, refusing request for withdrawal of arrest warrant, filed by Zia’s lawyer.
Victims
A total of 75 victims has so far died as of 20 February 2015 in the country-wide blockade, of which 41 were victims of arson attacks.
Aid
On 25 January 2015, the Bashundhara group donated Tk 20,000 ($260 or €240, as of March 2015) to each of the families of 46 burn victims at the DMCH, totalling to Tk 920,000 ($12,000 or €11,000).
As of 10 March 2015, a charity concert named the "Concert For The Burned" is to be held on 14 March as a fundraiser for burn victims in the DMCH; of which a significant proportion were injured or killed in arson or petrol bomb attacks. The concert is planned to be held at the National Library's auditorium with an entry fee of Tk 250 ($3.2 or €3.0) per person that will be directly given to the DMCH.
Reaction
In a statement on 13 February 2015, The United Nations Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric expressed concern over the Bangladeshi political crisis and told that they want a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.