By Saifullah Syed
ROME, Aug 23 2024 – The student movement in Bangladesh demanding reform of the quota system for public jobs was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Awami League (AL) government led by Sheikh Hasina, in power continuously since 2008, collapsed on 5th August 2024. With Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India and leaving the country in disarray, her authoritarian rule of 15 years just melted away.

Saifullah Syed

Prior to this sudden and dramatic turn of events, during her rule, the country was mired by institutional and financial corruption, crony capitalism, authoritarian administration, and forced disappearance of opponents. In addition, the AL government of Sheikh Hasina monopolised all lucrative appointments and commercial privileges for people belonging to her party, banning political discourse and dissent.

She developed the personality cult of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence in 1971 and who was brutally murdered on 15th of August 1975. The personality cult was so perverse that liberation of the country was attributed to Sheikh Mujib alone and all the other stalwarts of the liberation war and her party were ignored. Everything of significance happening in the country was attributed to his wisdom and foresight alone and were often named after him. Every Institution, including schools across the country and embassies around the world were obliged to host a “Mujib corner” to display his photo, and books about him only.

Yet, no political party, including the leading opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) succeeded in mobilising an uprising against Hasina’s regime. This was partly due her ability to project AL and her government as the sole guarantor of independence, sovereignty and secularism. Everyone else was cast as a supporter of anti-liberation forces, being communal, and accused of being motivated to turn the country into a hotbed of Islamic extremism. BNP was also accused of committing crimes and corruption when it was in power.

The founder of BNP is linked to the cruel murder of Sheikh Mujib and the members of her family, and the current leader of BNP is accused of masterminding the grenade attack aimed at killing Sheikh Hasina at an AL rally on 21st August 2004. Hasina survived the attack, but it killed 24 people and injured about 200.

Why did the student movement succeed ?

Like most historical events there are several factors, but the ultimate ones were that (i) the students were willing to die and (ii) the Military displayed patriotism and wisdom by refusing to kill. The students came from all walks of life, transcending party lines and economic background. Hence, attempts to cast them as anti-liberation did not succeed. The army refused to kill to protect a despotic ruler. Bangladeshis have always overthrown dictatorial rulers.

Why the students were ready to die and the army refused to kill are important issues for analysis but the critical question right now is: what next and where do we go from here ?

What Next for Bangladesh ?

The students have shown support for the formation of an interim government with leading intellectuals, scholars and elite liberal professionals and civil society actors under the leadership of Dr Younus, the founder of the Grameen Bank and a Nobel Laureate. These people were previously silenced and harassed during Hasina’s 15 year rule.

Many people remain sceptical, however. Many fear collapse of law and order and communal disturbances in the short run, which may lead to the emergence of another dictatorial rule. Neighbouring India, which supported Hasina’s government, is concerned about the rights of minorities in Bangladesh, although they showed scant concern for the minorities in India in the recent past.

Political and geo-political analysts are busy analysing the geo-political implications and the role of key players in mobilising the students to overthrow Hasina. This is raising questions about who engineered the Regime Change.

Fortunately for Bangladesh and the Bangladeshis, things can get only better. None of the short-term concerns have materialised. No major collapse of law and order nor oppression of minorities have taken place, barring a few localised incidents. Regarding the long run, things can only get better: it is extremely unlikely that another leader can emerge with reasons to substantiate a “moral right to rule”, disdain political discourse and project a personality cult – the basic ingredients of a dictatorial regime.

Hasina embodied several factors which were intrinsically associated with who she was. It is unlikely that anyone else with a similar background will emerge again. She started as a champion of democracy by seeking to overthrow the military rule that followed the murder of her father, then as a champion of justice by seeking justice for the killing of her father. Over time, however, she became a despot and a vengeful leader. Even if AL manages to regroup and come to power, it will be obliged to have a pluralistic attitude and not identify with Sheikh Mujib alone. All the stalwarts of the party have to be recognised, as only by recognising the forgotten popular figures of the party can it re-emerge.

Regarding the wider geo-political play by bigger powers, it may be important but cannot take away the fact that the majority of people are in favour of the change and are happy about it. It could be similar to gaining independence in 1971. India helped Bangladesh to gain independence because of its own geo-political strategic objective, but it has not reduced the taste of independence. If Bangladeshis’ desire coincides with the objective of others’ then so be it. It is win-win for both.

Eventually, Bangladesh will emerge with robust basic requirements for the protection of the institutions to safeguard democracy, such as independent judiciaries, a functioning parliamentary system with effective opposition parties, vibrant media and civil society organisations. It will become a country that will recognise the collective conscience of the leading citizens and intellectuals and establish good governance and social justice. The economy may go through some fluctuations due to troubles in the financial sector and export market, but a robust agriculture sector, vibrant domestic real estate market and remittances will keep it afloat.

The author is a former UN official who was Chief of Policy Assistance Branch for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 2024 – On August 7th, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq spoke at a press briefing at the United Nations Headquarters, detailing the high levels of food insecurity and socioeconomic distress in Zimbabwe as a result of the El Niño drought that continues to ravage the ecosystem. In April of this year, the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, declared a nationwide state of disaster.

“More than half of the harvest was destroyed, and some 7.6 million people are now at risk of acute hunger”, Haq stated. He added that approximately 5.9 million people are expected to face severe food insecurity early next year as the peak-hunger period approaches.

UN Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe Edward Kallon states “this crisis has far-reaching consequences across sectors such as food and nutrition security, health, water resources, education and livelihoods”.

The El Niño drought has generated a multitude of environmental issues in Zimbabwe, including reduced rainfall, increased temperatures, depleted rivers, and compromised air quality.

This is particularly troubling as Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on rainfall as it determines the success of crop production and livestock health. The efficacy of their agricultural system is crucial for the nation as more than half of the population relies on it as a source of income. Additionally, agriculture accounts for roughly 15 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

As a result of decimating crop yields, roughly 42 percent of the population is faced with extreme poverty. This has led to young children being pulled out of school to join the workforce in an effort to keep their families afloat.

“The drought has strained Zimbabwe’s economy, with more than a fifth of school-aged children now out of school”, Haq added. The El Niño drought has produced significant economic turmoil in Zimbabwe, putting families in a state of disarray as they struggle to make enough income to support themselves.

According to The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “more than 45,067 children dropped out of school, 3,000 more compared to the annual average. Currently, the El Niño-induced drought may result in increased school dropouts, as families face increasing poverty levels, thus making it difficult to pay school fees”. Furthermore, OCHA predicts that there will be higher rates of child marriages, violence against children, child migration, and child abandonment.

In addition to lower rates of education among children, they are the most vulnerable in terms of health. Due to widespread food insecurity and compromised diets, children are at high risk of succumbing to famine, malnutrition, and disease. The World Food Programme (WFP) states that approximately 27 percent of children in Zimbabwe have stunted growth.

Zimbabwean women are also highly vulnerable to the socioeconomic detriment caused by the drought. OCHA states that in addition to higher rates of child violence, there has been an increased level of gender-based violence recorded. In addition, there has been an observed increase in sexual violence, domestic violence, and gender-based violence as a result of “heightened family tensions caused by crop damages and income losses”.

OCHA adds that rural communities have been hit the hardest. Rural communities in Zimbabwe account for the majority of the nation’s population, with roughly 62 percent working in agriculture.

Additionally, the drought had a detrimental impact on the nation’s water supply, with many rivers being run dry and not expected to recover for years. This greatly limits access to clean water for many rural communities. OCHA states “35 percent of rural households were accessing inadequate water services, while 45 percent of rural households were traveling more than half a kilometer to fetch water”.

The diminishing access to clean water greatly exacerbates levels of poor hygiene and the spread of disease, particularly cholera, which continues to run rampant among poorer communities.

During an April 8th press briefing at the UN Headquarters, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric stated “The humanitarian community in Zimbabwe is also concerned that the scarcity and depletion of safe water resources could lead to an uptick in communicable diseases”.

OCHA adds that the risk of contracting infectious and waterborne diseases is significantly raised by the drought. The current cholera outbreak has been aggravated by poor hygiene practices as a result of the dry spells, with 591 deaths being reported between February 2023 and April 2024.

In addition, the drought increases the likelihood of developing malaria and maternity related complications. Pregnant women are highly vulnerable to stillbirths, infections, miscarriages, and maternal mortality. OCHA adds that this is primarily due to the drought greatly limiting resources essential for medication and quality of care.

Plans to mitigate the effects of the drought and assist communities in Zimbabwe are underway by the United Nations. Haq stated “the UN and partners continue to work with the Government to support response efforts. However, the $429 million flash appeal launched in May — which aims to assist more than 3 million people — is only about 11 per cent funded”.

IPS UN Bureau

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By Cedric Schuster
APIA, Republic of Samoa, Aug 23 2024 – In Samoa, we use a simple phrase to capture our way of life: Fa’asamoa. At the core of this concept is respect for others, devotion to family and a deep appreciation for the preservation of our natural resources. Importantly, Fa’asamoa has enabled us to sustainably fish our vibrant coral reefs for millennia, in a way that provides good health and prosperity for everyone in our communities.

We share our bounty of our fish species — including albacore, yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna — with the globe, but the fish in our waters also serve as a bedrock of our local cultures and diets. Without it, Fa’asamoa cannot exist.

But the coastal fisheries spread across our four inhabited islands halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand are under threat like never before. This is because carbon pollution is changing the ocean around us. Its waters are rising, more acidic and less full of life than we ever imagined was possible.

A surge of cyclones and heat are damaging delicate coral reefs that support our fisheries and flooding and eroding our coastal areas. We’ve built seawalls, battled flooding, and relocated communities whose lands were damaged by cyclones and slow onset climate change impacts such as erosion.

Our actions have not caused the climate crisis, yet we are facing its most dramatic impacts. This is why leaders from the Pacific and other island nations have become world leaders on climate action.

In recent years, island nations have taken our calls that countries should be held accountable for the damage they’ve done to our climate and ocean through their greenhouse gas emissions, to the highest courts and the most important international gatherings. Finally, the world is starting to listen.

Recently, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea determined that countries are legally accountable for polluting the ocean with greenhouse gas emissions. The Pacific nation of Tuvalu, together with leaders of small island nations worldwide, brought the case to court. Vanuatu pushed through a similar measure at the International Criminal Court of Justice.

We’re riding on a wave of success, but our work has only just begun.

This October, Samoa will host a gathering of leaders from 56 commonwealth countries, 49 of which are bordered or surrounded by water. As the first-ever Pacific country to host the bi-annual meeting, we have a timely opportunity to call attention to the urgent need for ocean action.

Fortunately, His Royal Highness King Charles III has shown unwavering support for one of the best opportunities we have to protect the ocean—marine protected areas (MPAs).

Science has long shown that setting aside marine areas, where damaging activities are banned, increases the food supply, provides economic benefits, and builds resilience against the climate crisis. Based on this research, pledges to protect 30% of the ocean are now enshrined in multiple global agreements—including the biodiversity agreement which will be discussed in Cali, Colombia, also in October.

But simply pledging protection is not enough. MPAs that strictly protect the ocean from extractive activities must be created — and quickly. Countries across the Pacific have established MPAs and are on course to establish many more in collaboration with scientists, local communities and conservationists.

In Samoa, traditional communities had established more than 70 no-take zones — traditional fisheries reserves managed and looked after by the villages themselves. We established national sanctuaries for migratory sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles in 2003.

As part of Samoa’s Ocean strategy and Marine Spatial Planning process, 30% of our EEZ will be protected as marine protected areas with 100% of it sustainably managed.

Niue, Solomon Islands, the Republic of Marshall Islands and several other Pacific countries have also established vital MPAs, some of which are community-led.

For so long, the industrial fishing industry has blocked the formation of MPAs. Their argument is almost always that fishing bans are bad for their business. But recent studies have shown us that MPAs actually replenish fish supplies.

So even if fishing is banned inside an MPA, more fish spillover to areas outside the protected zone, where fishing is allowed. The fishing industry benefits. A recent study of more than 50 MPAs in more than 30 countries worldwide found that the protections boosted either fishing or tourism, with some profits in the billions.

In Samoa, coastal communities have long known that sustainable fishing methods ensure steady fish supplies. They use a combination of traditional techniques and high tech tools. We know that many Commonwealth countries have a similar relationship to the ocean, from Scotland and Trinidad to Tobago and the Seychelles.

The international community has a critical opportunity in the coming months to recognize the urgency of protecting the ocean, our collective resource, before it’s too late.

Cedric Schuster is the Minister for Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Minister for Samoa Tourism Authority, which collectively oversee the country’s climate change, forestry, water resources, and lands. The Minister is a traditional chief from the village of Satapuala.

IPS UN Bureau

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In Kubewo village in eastern Uganda, children often go to work with their parents in the coffee gardens. Earnings from Arabica coffee are used, their parents and grandparents say, to pay for children’s education and other expenses for the family.  Farming families justify the labour, saying that children are observing adults and learning from their […]