Was Muhammad Yunus the wrong choice to bring stability to Bangladesh? – First post

Was Muhammad Yunus the wrong choice to lead Bangladesh?

Yunus was appointed to head the interim government in August after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India following widespread protests against her government.

The 84-year-old economist turned politician and Nobel laureate took power at a precarious moment and was expected to be a calming influence.

That didn’t happen.

Let’s take a closer look at why Yunus was the wrong choice to bring stability to Bangladesh.

Violence against minorities is increasing

According to News18Since Tuesday evening, minorities, especially Hindus, have been targeted throughout Bangladesh.

Gangs have attacked homes and targeted minorities with impunity, while the local government stands idly by.

Attacks on minorities and temples have taken place in Gopalganj, Maulvibazar, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Khulna and Khagrachhari – areas with the most Hindus.

According to the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), more than 200 incidents of violence against the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh have been reported since August 5.

Religious sites, especially temples, have often been the target of these attacks.

The arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of sedition has exacerbated the unrest.

Das, who was arrested earlier this week, was denied bail by a court in Bangladesh.

The decision led to demonstrations in cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram, where protesters demanded his immediate release and protection of minority communities.

According to Al Jazeera, India has expressed “deep concern” over the development.

New Delhi said this comes after “extremist elements in Bangladesh” have attacked Hindus and places of worship, pointing out that these attackers continue to go free even as authorities prosecute “a religious leader who raises legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings.”

“We have noted with great concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote of Bangladesh. This incident follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There have been several documented cases of arson and looting of minority homes and business establishments, as well as theft, vandalism and desecration of gods and temples.”

“It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges must be brought against a religious leader who is raising legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities peacefully protesting the arrest of Shri Das,” the MEA said.

The worst may be yet to come

News18 quoted Indian intelligence agencies as saying that minorities are not only unsafe on the streets, but can even be targeted in prison.

Sources said the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh cadres are behind the attacks.

“In two separate incidents in August, approximately 700 prisoners managed to escape from prison. Many of them were JMB sympathizers or leaders. After Sheikh’s exit
Hasina From Bangladesh, these cadres and other groups began targeting Hindus and other minorities. It is likely that minorities, especially Hindus, could be targeted in jails besides the streets,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity. News18.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has called on Bangladeshi authorities to take decisive steps to ensure the safety of minorities.

Bangladesh has claimed that the danger to Hindus is overestimated and that it is working to resolve the problem.

Radical voices unabated

Yunus seems to surround himself with radical voices.

News18 reported that Yunus, seeking to protect his political and economic interests, has kept Jamaat-e-Islami members from Bangladesh within his inner circle.

“His continued association with Jamaat stems from their significant influence in Bangladesh,” a source said. “The Jamaat believes that only ISKCON can change the current political momentum.”

Sources say Younis is under pressure to do this to ensure the proper functioning of Grameen Bank and its operations in rural Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s strong presence in many rural areas may have led Yunus to believe that cooperation with Jamaat-e-Islami is essential to prevent backlash, sources said.

No clarity on polls

Yunus has said he would let the election pass after ‘essential reforms’ The times of India.

“Some reforms may be implemented during the preparations for the elections, and for this reason the elections may be postponed by a few months,” Yunus said.

He added that the “election train had left the station.”

But according to Bangladesh’s constitution, new general elections should have been held within 90 days of the dissolution of parliament to elect the new government. But this didn’t happen.

Worse still, Yunus has not given a concrete timeline for the polls.

“I promise that we will hold the long-awaited elections once the necessary and essential reforms are completed,” said Yunus, addressing the nation 100 days after taking office.

“Within a few days, the election committee will be formed, after which the responsibility for organizing the elections will fall to them,” Yunus added.

“You will soon receive a detailed roadmap for the polls,” Yunus promised.

“Until then, I ask for your patience,” he said. “We strive to set up an electoral system that can serve as a model for generations to come. This will protect our nation from the recurring annual political crises. I ask you for the necessary time for this.”

However, Yunus sang a different song in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Although the exact time frame for the interim government’s term has not yet been determined, it should be less than four years, that’s for sure, but it could also be shorter,” Yunus said.

Student protests flare up

Student protests have flared up again after the death of a student of Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College (DMRC).

According to the Dhaka Tribune, students from 37 educational institutions have joined the protests.

DMRC students claim that a student Abhijit Hawlardard died last week due to medical negligence at DNMC.

They also accused the hospital of covering up the incident and claimed they had offered his family money.

DMRC students went on rampage at the hospital on Sunday.

They were joined by students from 34 other colleges including Ideal College, Dhaka City College, Donia College, Adamjee Cantonment College, Giasuddin Islamic Model College, Govt Tolaram College, Dhaka Imperial College, Shaikh Burhanuddin Post Graduate College, Government Science College, Lalbagh Govt Model School and College, Notre Dame College, Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, Siddheswari College and Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah Institute of Science and Technology. Most participants were upper secondary school students.

Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Shahid Suhrawardy College in Old Dhaka, where the final exams of the first year of the bachelor’s degree program were underway, also came under surveillance.

More than 100 examinees from both colleges were injured by rubble and stones, the newspaper reported.

Press freedom threatened

The daily star, a leading daily has also criticized the Yunus government for failing to protect press freedom.

“Threats to the media appear to be increasing in the current political climate, with coordinated campaigns aimed at stoking hostility against media houses that have long served as pillars of independent journalism. This raises troubling questions about the future of the press in Bangladesh,” the report said.

The newspaper said a mob attacked Prothom Alo’s headquarters and The Daily Star.

With input from authorities