Ali Riaz provided worldwide media commentary on Bangladesh’s student protests and the government crackdown that ensued. On August 7, 2018, as massive student protests about road safety were winding down, Riaz was quoted on the issue in a report by AFP, which was then published in the Straits Times of Singapore: “Bangladesh protests fizzle after days of violence.”
“Simmering discontent among the younger population about the direction of the country has surfaced through this movement.” ~Ali Riaz
Riaz argues that “simmering discontent among the younger population about the direction of the country has surfaced through this movement. Their slogan, ‘We want justice’ is quite telling in this regard.”
The following day, on August 8, 2018, as evidence of a brutal government crackdown against the protesters mounted, Riaz was quoted in a report analyzing student anger about the political system in Bangladesh. The article, titled “Why Bangladesh student protests are not just about road safety,” was published in DW. Riaz argues that while the protests were sparked by large numbers of traffic deaths, the broader issue is “the absence of accountability in governance and the absence of rule of law.”
