The political landscape of Bangladesh has been totally derailed and disoriented since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and the take over of the country’s administration by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. This political instability is peaking with every passing day and spiking beyond the control of the Yunus administration. The latest political development and protests are a testament to this fact as Bangladesh is witnessing multiple protests by multiple factions with the angst and frustration solely targeted towards the misadventure of the Yunus administration.
Students’ protest against cancellation of teachers’ recruitment
The Yunus administration has cancelled the recruitment process of the teachers’ for music and physical education in government primary schools. Thus, students and teachers are staging a protest against the move of the interim government at the Dhaka university and are demanding to revoke the cancellation of recruitment. The interim government which came to power under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, thus, is failing to fulfill the aspirations of the people, despite promising to rectify the mistakes of the Hasina era apparently.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her elected government was ousted from power over corruptive practices and mishandling of governance. Yunus administration reiterated to bridge these loopholes. However, even a year later, the interim government is unable to deliver its promise and bring peace, stability and progress in Bangladesh as the political disorientation and people’s protest keeps spiking in the country with every passing day.
Awami League demands lockdown as ICT is set to pass the verdict
Another protest embroiling Bangladesh is, Awami League, the political party of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for a nationwide lockdown as the International Criminal Tribunal(ICT) in Dhaka is set to give the verdict in the Sheikh Hasina case on November 17.
Post the ouster from power in August 2024 as a result of the students’ protest, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been booked for crimes against humanity. This includes murder conspiracy and other inhuman acts targeting the civilians. As the verdict is awaited protests have erupted across Bangladesh beyond Dhaka against the Yunus government. As an impact, police and the security personnel have been deployed across the capital. Multiple checkpoints have been erected at the entry points of Dhaka and police are on their foot to crackdown on the protestors.
These protests and demonstrations have brought a stalemate to public life in Bangladesh. Transportation facilities have been disrupted and the buses are set ablaze in few regions. In Brahmanbaria, a Grameen bank was set on fire which was established by Muhammad Yunus. This shows increasing angst of the public against the Yunus government. Bomb explosions were heard at multiple locations including at Dhaka university. Police have also arrested many protestors.
This political instability and the inability of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to peacefully curtail the protests and maintain law and order in the country might affect the Bangladesh elections scheduled for 2026. The angst and frustration of the people might affect the political ambitions of the leaders, political parties and their supporters who want to occupy the position of power as they are unable to deliver the progressive governance and transparent administration that they promised earlier. Instead, Bangladesh is only reeling under soaring political instability, unemployment and other economic crisis. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League political party is banned from contesting the elections. Yet, the citizens of Bangladesh are unhappy with the current interim government. The future of Bangladesh thus hangs in doldrums and political stability and prosperity of the country seems to be a distant dream.
