NEW DELHI, May 25: Bangladesh is experiencing deepening unrest as widespread protests erupt across the civil administration and business sectors against the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
A wave of dissatisfaction, triggered by proposed laws and perceived administrative failures, is shaking the country’s political and economic stability.
Mass protests have broken out within key government institutions. Government employees continued demonstrations at the Bangladesh Secretariat for a second day, opposing the proposed Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
They labeled it a “black law” that could make it easier to punish or terminate civil servants. Simultaneously, National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials also launched a work stoppage over another ordinance proposing the dissolution of the NBR in favor of two separate bodies.
The protest has halted nearly all import-export operations indefinitely. The government has promised not to implement the new laws without stakeholder consultations.
Adding to the unrest, primary school teachers announced a full-day work abstention starting Monday, demanding salary restructuring.
The unrest has spilled into the business community, with Bangladesh Textile Mills Association President Showkat Aziz Russell warning of an impending economic collapse.
He likened the situation to the 1971 Liberation War, claiming businessmen are being targeted. Russell also criticized the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority for failing to attract any foreign investment in the last eight months, saying investors favor Vietnam over Bangladesh.
Tensions are also rising between the military and the interim government. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, along with Navy and Air Force chiefs, reportedly urged Yunus to ensure elections are held by December to allow a return to elected governance.
They also expressed concerns about a proposed humanitarian aid corridor to Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Zaman later told senior officers he was unaware of several strategic decisions, raising concerns about civil-military coordination.
The military has since pledged to crack down on growing incidents of mob justice.
Yunus held a closed-door meeting with his Advisory Council, which later emphasized the interim government’s commitment to elections, reforms, and justice.
The council criticized “unreasonable” demands and “disruptive” programs for obstructing governance.
In efforts to rally political support, Yunus met with leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other parties, including the newly formed National Citizen Party.
However, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, speaking from London, dismissed the interim government’s efforts as ineffective without broader political consensus, reiterating demands for elections by December.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal charged a former police commissioner and seven officers for alleged crimes during the 2024 anti-government protests that led to the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime. (PTI)
