ديجيتال فابلت

الوسم: political turmoil

  • Bangladesh Urges India to Extradite Ousted Leader Sheikh Hasina

    Bangladesh Urges India to Extradite Ousted Leader Sheikh Hasina

    Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina delivers a speech at a rally during an election campaign in Sylhet on December 20, 2023, ahead of the upcoming general elections. — AFP

    – The Bangladeshi government did not specify the details of the letter it sent.
    – The former Prime Minister has been sentenced to death following a crackdown that resulted in numerous deaths.
    – According to Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, it is India’s duty to assist in her return.

    Bangladesh announced on Sunday that it had requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister, who was sentenced earlier this week to hang for her role in a violent crackdown against a student-led uprising.

    Hasina, 78, has been hiding in India since her authoritarian rule was ousted in August 2024. During her time in power, she received support from New Delhi.

    Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s interim foreign affairs minister, told reporters that on Friday, “we sent a letter requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina.” He did not disclose the contents of the message, though reports from Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo indicate this was the third formal extradition request made since Hasina fled the country.

    After her court conviction on Monday for crimes against humanity, which included a death sentence, Dhaka’s foreign ministry issued a statement emphasizing that India has a “mandatory obligation” under a bilateral treaty to facilitate her return.

    India’s foreign ministry responded by noting they had “taken note” of the verdict but did not comment directly on the extradition request, nor did they immediately reply to the latest communication from Dhaka.

    Bangladesh has experienced ongoing political chaos since the end of Hasina’s leadership, with violence affecting election campaigns slated for February 2026.

    The United Nations has reported that as many as 1,400 people lost their lives during the crackdown, a event central to her trial.

    Ties between India and Bangladesh have strained in recent years, especially following her removal from power. However, recent developments suggest a slight easing of tensions, with Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman visiting India this week for a regional security summit and meeting with his counterpart, Ajit Doval. Reports indicate that Rahman has extended an invitation for Doval to visit Bangladesh.

  • Yoon Evades Interrogation by Concealing in Underwear in South Korea

    Yoon Evades Interrogation by Concealing in Underwear in South Korea

    South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol was reported to lie on the floor of his detention cell in his underwear to resist attempts at interrogation, according to prosecutors. A new arrest warrant was issued last Thursday to compel his presence for questioning regarding allegations of election interference. However, authorities claimed they could not proceed because Yoon strongly refused to cooperate.

    Prosecutors detailed that Yoon declined arrest while lying on the ground, wearing only a sleeveless top and prison-issued briefs—a description they deemed appropriate given the gravity of the situation. They did not specify the color of his undergarments. Officials indicated they warned him that physical force might be necessary on the next attempt, but due to safety concerns, alternative measures were temporarily halted.

    Yoon’s detention follows his attempt to impose martial law on December 3, during which he dispatched troops to the parliament to halt lawmakers from voting down his declaration, igniting political chaos. He faces multiple charges, including insurrection and election tampering, but has repeatedly refused to appear before investigators. His legal team criticized prosecutors for turning what should have been a routine process into a spectacle of personal humiliation, questioning the appropriateness of releasing information about his clothing in a crowded jail amid extreme heat.

    Yoon is known to have health conditions that could complicate his cooperation with ongoing investigations, according to his lawyers.

  • Bangladesh’s Political Turmoil Disrupts Daily Life and Stability

    Bangladesh’s Political Turmoil Disrupts Daily Life and Stability

    Protests Intensify in Dhaka Amid Political Turmoil


    Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party demonstrate in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan area. — Reuters/File

    • Thousands gathered to support the Bangladesh National Party in Dhaka.
    • Leftist parties are preparing protests against the release of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader.
    • At least six different demonstrations occurred in Dhaka on Wednesday.

    Protests have become a routine part of life in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Many residents either participate in the events as political factions vie for power after last year’s upheaval or try to avoid the chaos altogether.

    Since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024—having fled by helicopter as demonstrators stormed her palace—the South Asian nation of approximately 170 million has been embroiled in political strife.

    Hasina’s 15-year-long authoritarian governance stifled dissent, holding back protests until a student-led uprising led to her downfall.

    On Wednesday, Dhaka, a city with over 20 million residents, witnessed at least six protests, encompassing political rallies, counter-protests, labor strikes, and even celebrations surrounding the release of a leader from death row.

    “I was freed this morning after spending 14 years in prison,” exclaimed ATM Azharul Islam, waving to thousands of supporters from the Jamaat-e-Islami party.

    As the crowd erupted in cheers following his release from a prison hospital in central Dhaka—a day after the Supreme Court overturned his death sentence and acquitted him of war crimes—Islam communicated his past grievances and expressed hope for future justice.

    “Previous rulings lacked fairness… We anticipate that the court will uphold justice moving forward,” he stated.

    In contrast, leftist factions have condemned his release and plan to hold counter-demonstrations.

    Across Ramna Park in the Naya Paltan district, a massive crowd filled the streets in a show of support for the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), as political groups brace for much-anticipated elections scheduled by the interim government for no later than June 2026.

    ‘Unpredictable’ Atmosphere

    While tens of thousands of protesters gather at key intersections in Dhaka, others struggle through the congested streets.

    “All major roads are blocked during the day,” lamented Zakir Hossain, a chicken vendor. “I’ve had to adjust my working hours and now start my day at midnight, even though the security situation is deteriorating, and muggings are becoming frequent.”

    This instability is a reminder of the violence that erupted last year when police attempted to suppress protests that ultimately led to Hasina’s exit.

    “The situation is unpredictable—protests can escalate into violence at any time,” voiced a housewife who wished to remain anonymous due to her husband’s government employment. “I used to refrain from calling him often, but now I worry whenever he is late returning home.”

    Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, an 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate heading the caretaker government, has called for unity among political factions to ease the intense competition for power.

    The government issued a warning on Saturday about “unreasonable demands” impeding its efforts.

    ‘Finding Balance’

    Yunus has proposed that elections could occur as soon as December, although he indicated a later date would allow more time for governmental reforms.

    Rallies organized by the influential BNP are demanding the government set a date for the elections and address a range of other issues, including the dismissal of certain cabinet members.

    Tax authority employees have been staging a partial strike for two weeks in response to reforms that would place their agency under the finance ministry’s purview.

    This tension intensified over the weekend when security forces cordoned off the national tax headquarters, subsequently prompting the government to reconsider its proposals.

    Civil servants also staged protests this week at major government office complexes against directives altering employment regulations, which the government indicated it would review.

    The demonstrations continue as everyday life is disrupted.

    “Customers rarely visit the bank when the roads are blocked,” remarked bank manager Muhammed Sazzad. While he supports the right to protest, he suggested that authorities might designate specific areas for demonstrations.

    Rakib Hasan Anik, a lecturer at the Bangladesh University of Professionals, expressed concern about the academic disruptions caused by the unrest, with students frequently caught in traffic and missing classes.

    “There needs to be a balance,” he said. “We hope all parties can come together to prioritize the needs of the public.”

  • South Korea Launches Trial for Ousted President Yoon’s Insurrection

    South Korea Launches Trial for Ousted President Yoon’s Insurrection

    Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets his supporters while leaving the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, 2025. —Reuters

    SEOUL: In a courtroom appearance on Monday, ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his controversial martial law declaration from late last year, asserting that it was “not a coup d’état.” He is facing a criminal trial for allegedly inciting an insurrection.

    The martial law declaration lasted only about six hours before Yoon abandoned the plan under pressure from lawmakers and public protests. This incident has led to months of instability and ultimately resulted in the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove him from office for violating constitutional powers.

    After departing his residence in a motorcade, Yoon entered the Seoul Central District Court clad in a dark navy suit and a red tie. He has consistently denied all charges against him.

    During the trial proceedings, prosecutors argued that Yoon lacked the legal basis to impose martial law, claiming he intended to immobilize state institutions, including parliament. “The defendant rendered it impossible for constitutional organizations to perform their duties based on an unlawful order,” stated the prosecution.

    Yoon, who previously served as the nation’s chief prosecutor, took the stand and vigorously countered the prosecutors’ claims. “Martial law does not equate to a coup d’état,” he contended.

    He argued that the rules were necessary to inform the public about the opposition party’s attempts to hinder governance by impeaching over 20 officials, an action he deemed perilous. “This was merely a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation… I anticipated this martial law would last no more than half a day to a day,” Yoon remarked.

    Although he stated that he had communicated his intentions to former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon alleged that military personnel misinterpreted the orders, possibly due to their previous training protocols.

    Charges of Insurrection

    Two senior military officers testified later that day. They claimed that a superior officer ordered them to deploy troops to forcibly remove lawmakers from parliament during Yoon’s martial law order. Yoon refuted this claim, denying that he issued such commands.

    The martial law declaration, which aimed to eliminate what Yoon described as “anti-state” elements, was rescinded when parliamentary staff used barricades and fire extinguishers to stop special operations soldiers from entering the building, where lawmakers voted against the martial law measure.

    The serious charge of masterminding an insurrection, faced by the impeached leader, could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though no executions have occurred in South Korea for many years.

    Yoon’s declaration on December 3 shocked the nation and created turmoil across various sectors, including society, the economy, and foreign policy, according to the Constitutional Court’s ruling for his ousting.

    The upheaval has further highlighted the significant social divides between conservatives and liberals and has led to increased scrutiny on institutions and the military, which found itself in a dilemma regarding the enforcement of martial law.

    The former president returned home on Friday after his term, greeted by throngs of conservative supporters as his motorcade passed by. Yoon has relocated back with his wife and pets to their apartment situated just a short distance from the Seoul court, where he previously achieved notable legal victories, including the conviction of another impeached president, Park Geun-hye.

    Despite the ongoing legal challenges, he remains resolute and has promised to support his followers. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party criticized him on Monday for being out of touch and failing to issue a genuine apology.

    South Korea is set to hold a snap election on June 3, raising questions about whether Yoon will still have a political role to play.