Bangladesh witnessed a political upheaval on August 5th. After ruling for 15 years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Chinese official media reported the event in a low-key manner, while Chinese netizens extended their blessings to the people of Bangladesh, with some even praising the Bangladesh military for standing with the people. Experts noted that such political upheavals overseas have always been a taboo topic for the Chinese authorities, and discussions among netizens could resonate in the corridors of power in Zhongnanhai.
In Bangladesh, on August 5th, a significant change occurred. Chief of Army Staff Waker-uz-Zaman announced in a televised speech that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had resigned and fled to India, and that an interim government would be established. Bangladesh President Sahabuddin has ordered the release of the former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was serving a prison sentence, and the military announced the end of curfew on the 6th.
Sheikh Hasina’s government implemented a quota system for public positions, reserving over half of the civil service positions for specific groups, including allocating 30% of government jobs to families of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 anti-Pakistan Liberation War. This system triggered violent clashes in Bangladesh, where protests against Hasina’s violent crackdown on student demonstrations resulted in around 300 deaths, thousands injured, and over 10,000 arrests.
Official Chinese media controlled by Beijing kept a low profile in reporting on the large-scale protests. Xinhua News Agency issued brief reports yesterday concerning Hasina’s resignation and the announcement by the Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff regarding the establishment of an interim government in Bangladesh.
Although the topic did not trend on Weibo’s hot search list, some netizens still engaged in discussions. Some mentioned Hasina’s relationship with China, others referenced Venezuela’s dictator Maduro, while some praised the Bangladesh military.
User “Fancy Cat Hunter” wrote, “Just visited China last month, received warmly.”
User “White Cloud Far Away” commented, “…The deciding factor for Hasina’s downfall was the military’s neutrality. After witnessing severe casualties from police brutality, the military did not want to bear the blame. With Hasina losing her last support, she could only flee in panic. Otherwise, her life would be at risk. The emperors and Maduro all have their concerns. What will be their fate in the end?”
User “I Love Cycling Alone” stated, “Bangladesh is lucky to have a military loyal to the country and its people.”
User “Forest-TTT” emphasized, “Bangladesh’s military are true sons of the people!”
User “Little Red Riding Hood 0915” said, “Next, Maduro.”
User “It’s Liu Yuyang” remarked, “The key to the success of Bangladesh’s revolution against privilege this time lies in the military standing with the people. The soldiers are the people’s soldiers, refraining from shooting at the just protesters to protect Hasina’s regime.”
Some questioned whether the unrest in Bangladesh was incited by the United States. Following Hasina’s escape to India, one netizen noted that while Hasina was pro-India, she also sought a balance between China and India, and resisted against the United States.
On Weibo, users expressed blessings to the protesters in Bangladesh, marveling at the courage of the Bangladeshi people compared to their own restrictions during the pandemic.
At 77 years old, Hasina is the daughter of founding President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the longest-serving female head of government in Bangladesh. She won her fifth term as Prime Minister in January of this year but faced resistance. Thousands of opposition members were arrested before the elections. The U.S. and the UK condemned the election results as unreliable.
Similarly, in Venezuela, after incumbent President Nicolas Maduro claimed victory on July 29th, doubts were raised about the government’s released voting data. Protesters took to the streets, with the U.S. recognizing the opposition candidate’s win. However, Beijing promptly congratulated Maduro the next day.
Earlier, from July 8th to 11th, Hasina had just visited China. The two countries expressed their intention to “establish a comprehensive strategic partnership” in a joint statement. However, Hasina was also a target for India. Before her visit to China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already signed over ten agreements with Bangladesh on June 22nd.
Bangladesh currently faces a series of crises, including high unemployment rates and corruption.
Associate Professor Chen Shimin from the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University told Epoch Times that he believes Hasina’s escape would have triggered the most sensitive nerves in Beijing. Chen questioned whether Xi Jinping could become the next Hasina.
Chen explained that the views expressed on the Chinese internet are only a minority of public opinions. From the 2022 Blank Paper Movement and the protests at Beijing’s Sito Bridge to the recent youth student hanging banners protesting on a bridge in Hunan, it highlights the existence of public discontent in China, albeit stifled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) without the ability to organize collectively.
“Unlike in Bangladesh, where nationwide uproar stemmed from a minor issue of civil service job allocations, leading to demands for Hasina’s resignation, would such an event happen in China? I think that’s something Xi Jinping is very worried about,” Chen added.
Executive Director of the Taiwan Inspiration Association (TIA) Lai Rongwei told Epoch Times that people’s protests, government resignations, and social demonstrations have long been a taboo subject for Chinese media, regardless of whether they occur in democratic or non-democratic countries.
Lai mentioned that the situation in Bangladesh is related to employment, similar to the severe economic issues and widespread unemployment in China right now, where ordinary people have no means to voice out their grievances on the streets. The blessings given by netizens to the people of Bangladesh somewhat reflect their helplessness. These voices behind the Great Firewall will exert pressure on the top echelons of the CCP, as since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the CCP’s goal has been to maintain political stability.
Regarding the recent Peng Lifa incident in Hunan on July 30th, where a young man displayed anti-CCP banners, Lai mentioned that such events would become more frequent. It won’t be just ordinary people criticizing the CCP; even the red descendants are starting to speak up. “People have begun to realize that this country can no longer be ruled by the Communist Party, and they no longer believe in communism. The CCP is facing a greater crisis than during the Cultural Revolution.”