The interim government is under pressure from all sides just passing after three months. Pressure from the political parties to hold the national election as soon as possible, wide criticism about the inclusion of new advisers and recruitment in other sectors, interest from the various levels to become advisers of the interim government, the challenge of controlling the prices of daily essentials, dissatisfaction over various demands and continuous criticism on social media have increased the pressure on the government. However, there is no visible initiative from the interim government to ease this anger and dissatisfaction.
The government is struggling to tackle the students' movement off and on over various issues. Students have become inspired after their successful movement on auto promotion in multiple subjects of the Higher Secondary Examination. Students of Jagannath University (JnU) staged demonstrations at the Bangladesh Secretariat although Dhaka Metropolitan Police banned all kinds of meetings and rallies in the area. JnU students observed the protest rally on Monday demanding five points including a handover of the work of their new campus to the Army and inclusion in the pilot project proposed by the University Grant Commission (UGC). During the protest programme, an unwanted situation arises over chanting slogans in the presence of a young adviser. Although JnU students said they didn’t chant slogans targeting the adviser on Wednesday, the issue was a hot topic on social media. Alongside this incident, the interim government is facing wide criticism for the appointment of two new advisers.
Protesters also hold rallies at different places demanding the removal of the two news advisers. Many people from the country and abroad are active on social media to criticize the activities of the interim government led by Prof Dr Yunus.
Agitated students staged protests in multiple universities including Dhaka University on Monday over the appointment of new advisers. Criticizing the government, anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said the government is mocking the students over the appointment of the advisers. Awami fascism is being rehabilitated ignoring the blood of the students.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement staged a protest by blocking the Rangpur-Dhaka highway on Wednesday demanding to appoint at least five advisers in the interim government from the Rangpur and Rajshahi division. The vehicular movement between Rangpur and the whole country was halted for hours due to the blockade.
People and students have also anger with other advisers. Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum faced outrage at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) on Wednesday while visiting victims of the July-August mass upsurge. Those still undergoing treatment from injuries sustained during the mass uprising barred the adviser from leaving the hospital complaining that she had not met all the injured. They also complained about not receiving Tk 100,000 as per the announcement made by the authorities.
Students of private universities have also brought allegations that private universities are neglected in the interim government although students of the private varsities fought against the Awami League government. Even the number of martyrs from the private universities in the July movement is multiple times higher than the public universities.
Private University Students Alliance of Bangladesh (PUSAB) said, “We will pull if the government has become dictator. If something is unfair, we will oppose it. We are uncompromising about rights. Who decides who will be the adviser? This question must be answered.” The government is under a lot of pressure over these issues. On the other hand, the unstable situation in the educational institutions is not over fully. Students are still trying to remove the heads of educational institutions in many places.
Meanwhile, social crime is increasing in the country. Despite taking various initiatives, the interim government has failed to curb these problems. People's sufferings are not decreasing due to extreme increases in commodity prices. The administration is not able to control the prices of daily essentials. The government is under huge pressure on the inflation issue. Food inflation eased slightly in September compared to August but increased again in October. The inflation rate in the food sector increased to 12.66 per cent in October which was 10.40 per cent in September.
BNP and like-minded several political parties have been demanding a national election within a logical time. Some advisers of the government are saying people didn’t sacrifice their lives not only for holding elections. On the other hand, political parties said the elected government would reform the country. For this reason, they want an election within a short time.
Various propaganda in Indian media over Bangladesh has also created pressure on the government. Propaganda is being spread saying the interim government is under diplomatic pressure following the victory of US president-elect Donald Trump.
Contacted, former chairman of the Political Science Department of Dhaka University Professor Dr Nurul Amin Bepari told Bangladesh Pratidin that there will be pressure on the government in a country like Bangladesh. The interim government has come to power through a mass uprising. It has no experience to rule the country. There is criticism about two new advisers as they are the beneficiaries of the Awami League government. One of them has participated electoral rally of the Awami League.
He said, “Most of the advisers of the interim government hailed from Chattogram. Some of them have NGO backgrounds. If we termed the government as NGOgram, would it be wrong? The country can’t be run by an NGOgram government.”
Nurul Amin Bepari also said BNP has demanded a roadmap for the election. This demand does not mean a speedy election. On the other hand, some reformations of the country should be done. Reformation is needed in the law, judiciary and administrative department for their smooth operation. But reformation is a continuous process. It should not be wise to stay in power for long for reformation. So, the interim government should announce an electoral roadmap, he added.
bd-pratidin/GR
