Kolkata: Newspaper editorials in Bangladesh – which has been without leadership since its increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled on August 5 – have almost unanimously called for peace to prevail.

Hours after these editorials were published on August 7, interim leader Muhammad Yunus issued a statement to the people of the country, urging for calm as well.

'A new dawn rises on Bangladesh'

In successive editorials, The Daily Star has called for sweeping reforms, noting that this key reference point in the country's history of mass uprisings is not one that can go in vain.

"This is a day that will be remembered for generations to come. A day when a 15-year-long authoritarian rule finally came to an end," the paper said on August 6.

The paper noted that the events of the past few weeks are similar to what Russian revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Lenin once said about decades where nothing happens, and weeks where decades happen.

A day later, the paper called for an economic revival as the first step of resuming normalcy.

"Among the main challenges we are facing are high inflation, falling foreign exchange reserves, high burden of default loans, poor governance in banking sector (and in general), and corruption. On top of that, the recent spate of violence leading to the massive destruction of public and private properties will have terrible impacts on the economy," it said.

It said that the air of uncertainty regarding the type of government that will be formed next in Bangladesh needs to be addressed.

Corruption has led to a situation where people's expectations cannot be met without public institutions significant structural changes, it said.

"So while we focus on fixing the damage that has been done in recent weeks and over the years, we must strive to transition to a more democratic system so that rent-seeking, inequality and all other economic ills can be overcome in the long run," it said.

'Prevent vandalism'

The Prothom Alo newspaper has given a clarion call to put a stop to the recent spate of vandalism in the country – initially an expression of the public protests.

Targeting of minority communities' properties is unacceptable, the paper's editorial on August 7 said.

"After the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there is virtually no government in the country. In such a situation, the incidents of violence, arson, looting and attacks on the homes and places of worship of the minority communities across the country are unacceptable. These events may tarnish the victory achieved by the overthrow of dictatorship through the united movement of students and people from all walks of life," it wrote in Bengali.

The editorial also noted that with officials occupying senior positions slipping out of public view since Hasina's resignation, there is no one to deal with the attacks, vandalism, looting and arson happening in different parts of the country.

'Law and order must be restored'

The Dhaka Tribune also called for vandalism to stop. "The looting, violence, vandalism, arson, and attacks that have roiled the nation and left dozens dead across the country that have come in the wake of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister on Monday have cast a bleak shadow on what should be celebrated as a turning point for us as a nation," it said.

The editorial shed light on the fact that deaths continue to take place – a fact that both horrifies and threatens to undermine the "incredible bravery and courage displayed by the students of this nation."

Throughout the protests, there have been calls for peace, and the students, despite facing bullets from the law enforcement, showed remarkable restraint from adopting a retributional attitude themselves, the Tribune sought to remind.

'Stop the violence'

One of Bangladesh's most circulated dailies, the Bangladesh Pratidin called for the violence to stop in its latest editorial.

At the end of this situation, factories, offices, courts, educational institutions should be brought back to normalcy. It is also important to reach a national consensus on legal remedies for all injustices, the editorial said in Bengali.

It also called for common sense to prevail in the country.

'Waiting for peace and order'

The Dainik Jugantar also issued a similar demand for peace and non-violence, noting that it does not bear repetition that the arson and attacks everywhere across the country have led to a sense of fear among normal people.

Government employees left work by noon, in fear of being attacked again, the paper said.

'Ensure security'

The Kalerkontho newspaper also, unsurprisingly, called for peace and security to prevail.

"In a notification from the government, everyone has been urged to behave patiently and tolerantly to control the law and order situation in the country. We hope that all citizens of the country will thus show tolerance and that all citizens of the country will feel safe," it said.

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