Bangladesh Unrest Grows as Teachers, Public Servants Protest Against Interim Government

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : On Monday, civilians in Bangladesh started mass protests as government primary school teachers escalated the demonstrations against the interim government managed by Muhammad Yunus - the Nobel Prize Peace winning. Increasingly exacerbated problem reveals that discontent is now spreading across the public sector due to the political polarization and endless reforms.  

What is the Reason Behind Teachers and Civilians Protesting?  

Protests began after an interim government order was issued on a Sunday to permit the Public Administration Office to fire government officials over perceived wrongdoing without due process. This new ordinance was met with outrage as civil administration declared, "Forced servitude is tantamount to repression." Thus, collective action was put in motion on what is now their third consecutive day of protesting.  

In unison, thousands of primary school teachers around the nation went on an indefinite strike on Monday, unyieldingly calling for a raise.  

Widespread Anger Forces Reversal of NBR Dissolution Order  

The government faced intensified reactions, as they were forced to rescind their unsanctioned order on merging the National Revenue Board (NBR) into two departments of the finance ministry, subsequently, the NBR employees ended their organized strike.

Muhammad Yunus under Increasing Stress

Due to student body protests that turned violent and resulted in the death of numerous students, thereplaced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fledto India, in August 2024. Yunus, 84, became the interim head of state. Although Yunus has stature, he now comes under fire from civil services, teachers, political factions, and even some parts of the military.  

Increased political activity came from the students after one of the top students remarked how there is no agreement over the reforms and the time is set to rise the elections – no consensus is decided whether he steps down or not, sought leapfrogging. However, Wahiduddin Mahmud, the planning adviser, refuted the statement by saying:  

“Clearly we are not going anywhere till our job is done.”

Early Elections in Military’s Crosshairs

Yunus set June 2026 as the preferred date for the elections, however, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with Khaleda Zia at the helm, called for the elections to be in December 2025. That places additional stress on the deadline.  

To have even more pressure, the Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman stated that the elections should be conducted in December and that he is unsatisfied with the current political situation of the country.

Political Ban Deepens Crisis

We cannot omit Hasina's case. Early this month the registration of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League was suspended which, in tandem, prevents them from participating in the impending election.

Hasina’s acute issues have not resulted in violence, Wars have intense conflicts:

Shafiqul Alam said:  

"We're caught in a warfare like situation... The attempts to build a hyper-partisan and destabilizing characterization of the government are non-stop."

Yunus is reportedly having emergency talks with the following Political leaders

BNP

Jamaat-e-Islami  

Undercitizen National Party is a student organization masquerading as a political party.

Some of the opposition has met with him to suggest their conflicting approaches which contribute to the ongoing crisis

Read More: Pakistan and Afghanistan Border Tensions Flare Up with Night Long Heavy Firing