The citizens of Bangladesh have high expectations from the government led by Dr. Yunus. The nation believes that the Nobel Peace Prize winner is currently the head of the country. They hope that peace will come to Bangladesh under Dr. Yunus’s leadership. Yunus is certainly delivering that message of peace.
However, somehow, his words do not align with the current situation in the country. Something is amiss. Just as there are differences in people’s thoughts, there are also differences in perspectives. Most people see but do not understand what is happening in Bangladesh now. However, some have quickly realized that something is indeed wrong.
Let’s take a step back.
The Prime Minister left the country on August 5th —it could be said it was on an August afternoon—and the current government assumed power on August 8th.
How unexpectedly and rapidly the situation in the country transformed! Have you ever pondered over the sudden shift?
1) The army, once a protector of the people, is now under scrutiny. There are allegations that the army coerced Sheikh Hasina to leave the country. She was given a mere half an hour to depart without even the chance to address her people. The army’s actions were unjust and did not allow for due process.
2) The army and the Anti-Discrimination Student Unity Alliance together appointed members of the new interim government. The question here is, why should the army represent the country? The army did not declare a state of emergency and take over state power. The Prime Minister left the country, but the president was still in the country. In the absence of the Prime Minister, all state power rests with the president. Therefore, the army can’t appoint an interim government. But they did.
Moreover, there is no written or verbal evidence of Hasina resigning from the country. She might have just temporarily left to save her life.
3) No one protested much against the appointment of interim government members in other regions of the country. But the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts did. The Chittagong Hill Tracts is a region known for its indigenous population and unique cultural heritage. The Chakma Queen, Yan Yan, led the protest. She is the most honored public figure among the Chittagong Hill Tracts Indigenous peoples. Their protests were not heeded. The army appointed their selected members.
4) The army is forcing people holding various positions in the country to resign, one after another. The president, judges, and high-ranking officials in sports organizations are all being forced to resign. Yet these high-ranking officials could have voluntarily met with the interim government head and resigned. But they were not given that time. It’s not being allowed. The army is forcing them.
5) Let’s talk about law and order. Sheikh Hasina’s area, Gopalganj, has recently been flooded with ridiculous ‘memes’ on social media, which are often derogatory and offensive. The army has conducted numerous operations there. They have beaten up Awami League supporters wherever they found them, whether on the streets or in their homes. The army took the law into its own hands. They could have detained those people and allowed the law to take its course. But that’s not how a country’s laws should be handled. But they did it anyway.
6) The people of the Hindu and other minority communities in the country are living in extreme uncertainty. Every day, their homes, fields, shops, and temples are being attacked. Protests are happening both in and outside the country, demanding protection against this persecution of Hindus. Thousands of people are protesting under the banner of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council in Shahbagh and other district towns. Hundreds of families are seeking refuge in India to save their lives. Yunus has said he would resolve this with sweet words, but he has yet to take any strongaction.
So what is the interim government actually doing? The people of the country do not see any role of the government.
Why? Could it be that Yunus has no power? But he is not incompetent. Then, is his power confined to an illusion or confined at Ainaghor?
Questions have also been raised about the oath-taking ceremony. This ceremony has surpassed even Pakistan and Afghanistan. For the first time, people of different religions in the country have seen this and are heartbroken. It’s as if no religion other than Islam exists in the country.
So, what is going to happen?
On the surface, BNP, Jamaat, and other parties think they will come to power this time. At first glance, it seems that way. But the reality is different. They are actually headed for a fool’s paradise. It will never happen. This is actually an undeclared military government. They will remain in power for at least a few years using Yunus as a front. Yunus’s government is just a facade. The reality is complete military rule.
The elections are far off. There is no possibility of elections within at least five years. What BNP is secretly thinking won’t happen. They think they are better off now than the Awami League. But the real game may begin in about a year and a half. For now, military rule will continue with the Islamic parties. Because to stay in power in a Muslim-majority country, it’s wise to align with Islamic parties.
So, what will happen to Bangladesh?
The country will gradually become unstable again in the near future. People will take to the streets demanding elections. There will be protests, rallies, and street fights. But the most affected will be the minority communities. This could even lead to war with India.
In conclusion, there isn’t much to expect from the Yunus government. Because this government is just a facade. The heart of it is military rule. Military rule has never been good for any country at any time. It has never been good for Bangladesh, and it never will be.
If this is the overall condition of the country, can you imagine how dire the situation is in the Chittagong Hill Tracts?
