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With the country in crisis, Salimullah Khan’s new role as interim leader promises a bold and decisive approach to restoring stability and implementing crucial reforms read more
 "The Bangladesh scholar set to lead country in its political crisis")
Salimullah Khan. Flickr
In a rare television appearance, Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced on Monday about the formation of an interim government led by Salimullah Khan. This significant development follows ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the recent quota reform protests in Bangladesh.
The protests, which erupted in response to controversial government job quota reforms, have been marked by violent clashes and widespread unrest, leading to numerous casualties and raising questions about the government’s handling of dissent.
Khan, a prominent academic and public intellectual, has emerged as a central figure in this volatile period. Known for his critical stance on political and social issues, Khan has called for an international probe into the alleged state-sponsored killings that occurred during the protests. His demand for a credible investigation reflects growing concerns about the transparency and impartiality of domestic inquiries.
In his recent statements, Khan voiced strong criticism of the government’s response to the protests characterising it as repressive and counterproductive. He argued that the issue of job quotas is deeply political and should be resolved through a political dialogue rather than through further repression or superficial measures such as party bans. Khan advocated for a comprehensive political solution including an unconditional apology from the government and its resignation as essential steps toward addressing the root causes of the unrest.
Furthermore, Khan emphasised the critical need to restore a safe and conducive learning environment in universities stressing that the ongoing violence and arrests of students undermine the educational system. His call for the release of detained students and support for victims of the protests reflected his commitment to justice and academic freedom.
Khan on quota reform protests: Key points
State-sponsored killings: Khan asserted that all the killings during the quota reform protests were state-sponsored involving state forces and their associates.
Need for international orobe: He called for an international investigation to ensure a credible examination of the killings citing scepticism about achieving justice domestically.
Support for victims: Salimullah expressed solidarity with those killed, injured, disappeared and persecuted during the protests.
Political nature of quota issue: He argued that the debate over government job quotas is inherently political and should be addressed as such.
Government’s repression: The government’s initial response of ignoring the issue, followed by repression, is criticised. Khan believed this approach exacerbates the problem.
Ineffectiveness of bans: He contended that banning political parties will not address the root causes of the problem and will only complicate matters further.
Call for political resolution: Khan advocated for a political solution including an unconditional apology from the government and its resignation as preliminary steps.
Restoration of safe learning environments: He emphasised the need to restore a safe educational environment in universities and demands the release of all detained students.
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English (US) ·