Right to Protest Under Siege

Editorial

The interim government under Dr. Yunus has launched a devastating campaign to suppress the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, protest, and political dissent. Recently, Home Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury directed the police to block any rallies by the Awami League—an alarming turn for the country’s fragile democracy.

The Home Advisor’s open threat—that any police officer failing to stop Awami League rallies will face consequences—not only denies political pluralism but also signals the use of law enforcement as a political tool. This sends a clear message: the streets are reserved for the ruling side, while dissenters live in fear.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has labeled flash protests by Awami League-affiliated student and labor organizations as “attempts to create a terrifying situation.” In reality, these groups engage in symbolic protests for a few minutes before dispersing, aware that the city streets have become a place of fear. Law and order have deteriorated, with criminals roaming freely and committing crimes. Police action seems to follow only when images or videos of incidents go viral.

Thousands of Awami League leaders and activists have been arrested, labeled as “intimidators,” and detained. Their “crime” was protesting an unjust prohibition.

This critical juncture affects not only the Awami League but all citizens of Bangladesh. Can people peacefully oppose controversial government actions, or must they prepare for surveillance, harassment, and imprisonment? The interim government’s repressive stance sets a dangerous precedent: dissent is chaos, and protest is crime.

The primary responsibility of a neutral caretaker government is to create a fair and acceptable election environment and then step aside. However, the Yunus-led government has already lost its credibility by effectively banning a major political party with significant public support.

Bangladesh’s history shows that its people cannot remain silent in the face of oppression, persecution, and injustice. Treating protest as a crime means stifling the voice of the people. If the state dictates who can speak and who must stay silent, the country’s hard-earned independence will erode—a freedom once fought for and paid for with countless lives.