Amid growing tensions, patience becomes Bangladesh's biggest test

After the people's uprising, Professor Salimullah Khan said in an interview that the situation is now shifting from a pan to fire, and from fire to a pan. As time passes, Salimullah Khan's words are proving to be true. The political and cultural atmosphere of the country is becoming increasingly tense. It is true that after such a large-scale people's uprising and the overthrow of a long-standing authoritarian fascist government, there has been no major lawlessness. The demands and struggles of different groups can be considered normal. Those who were long neglected, oppressed, tortured, and deprived have now taken to the streets to claim what is rightfully theirs. For example, the protests of workers or employees demanding permanent jobs or salary increases in various organizations. However, what happened in the country this week makes it clear that the situation is far from calm or normal.

What happened in Dhaka and Chattogram this week is extremely concerning. The week began with tensions surrounding prayers and the slaughtering of cows in front of the offices of Daily Prothom Alo and Daily Star. A group of Islamists protested demanding the closure of these two leading daily newspapers, accusing them of being pro-India. Such allegations can exist against any institution by any group; however, when the demand to close these newspapers was raised using religious sentiments, even those who had previously criticized these papers found themselves opposing the protests. There was widespread criticism on social media, with some even commenting that it was an insult to religion. Sensitive issues like these should not be used as tools for protest.

Following this, there was a violent clash three colleges in Dhaka, which resulted in the death of three people. This sparked fears of a nationwide escalation of tensions. However, it was later revealed that while 25 people were indeed injured in the clashes, the news of three fatalities was false. So, who spread this misinformation and why? Last week, there were scenes of student unrest on the streets. Students from Dhaka College and Titumir College blocked roads and protested for university demands, causing Dhaka city to come to a virtual standstill throughout the week. This led to further clashes between Dhaka College and City College. Since the people's uprising, students' protests and struggles have been continuous. Observing all this, both the general public and intellectuals are raising questions: while there may be validity and reality to the causes of these movements, if students remain engaged in protests for months on end, when will they find time to study?

Since the people's uprising, colleges and universities were closed for an extended period. In many universities, it took almost two months to appoint a vice-chancellor. While regular classes are now taking place in colleges and universities, it cannot be said that educational activities are running at full capacity. The situation is particularly dire in government colleges, especially in Dhaka city. Meanwhile, the results of the HSC exams were announced through auto-passing, and university entrance exams will likely begin soon. However, considering the current circumstances, it cannot be said that the overall educational sector in the country is functioning well.

These issues might not be considered major events in the context of a post-uprising situation, and many of these can be dismissed as minor incidents. But what happened in Chattogram on Tuesday (November 26) at the court premises cannot be called a small incident under any circumstances. On Monday, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote and the head of Pundrik Dham, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, was arrested in a case of treason. For several days, Chinmoy Krishna Das had been leading multiple rallies. He claimed that these rallies were held to protest the 'oppression' faced by Sanatan Hindus. Many of his statements have sparked considerable controversy.

In particular, during a procession in Chattogram last October, allegations were made against Chinmoy Krishna Das for disrespecting the national flag of Bangladesh. A case was filed against him in relation to this incident, and it was in connection with this case that he was arrested. On Tuesday, when Chinmoy Krishna Das was being taken to prison, there was a large-scale clash between his supporters and law enforcement agencies. The clash lasted for two hours. During the confrontation between the police and the unruly crowd of Sanatan Hindus, a lawyer named Saiful Islam Alif (35), who was a member of the High Court Bar, lost his life. During the clash, which continued from noon until the afternoon, almost fifty people, including several other lawyers, were injured. Six seriously injured individuals were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

That’s the news, but many rumors spread behind this incident. There was growing concern that communal riots could break out in Chattogram. People across the country were gripped by a sense of fear and anxiety. From the afternoon to the night of November 27, there were repeated calls on social media for everyone to remain patient, stay calm, and not heed any communal provocations. The government and leaders of the people's uprising also echoed this message. Advisor Asif Mahmud told the media that if there is any interference with Bangladesh's sovereignty or independence, or if any insult occurs to the state, such as a treasonous act, the government will take strict action. It is crucial to ensure that no community in Bangladesh faces deprivation or persecution merely because of their communal identity.

It can be said that this is the most sensitive and alarming incident since the people's uprising. India has also expressed concern over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a statement on Tuesday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed its concern, stating: "We are deeply concerned to witness the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote, and the rejection of his bail. This incident comes after multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremists in Bangladesh. There have been numerous recorded incidents of arson, looting, theft, vandalism, and desecration of deities and temples in the homes and businesses of minorities."

In response to India's concern, Bangladesh has issued a counter statement. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (November 26) labeled the Indian government's comments as "baseless" and stated that such statements are contrary to the friendly relations between the two countries. The statement from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "The Bangladesh government expresses deep disappointment and sorrow that certain quarters have misinterpreted the arrest of Mr. Chinmoy Krishna Das, as he was arrested on the basis of specific charges."

Bangladeshi poet and intellectual Farhad Mazhar has protested against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. A few days ago, he had met with Chinmoy Das in Chattogram. In a post on social media, he called for the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote and head of Pundrik Dham, stating: "Release Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari immediately, protect the civic and human rights of all the people of Bangladesh, regardless of religion and ethnicity, including Sanatan Hindus, and end the self-destructive communal politics."

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Secretary General of the BNP, echoed sentiments similar to those of Farhad Mazhar. During a discussion organized by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on the death anniversary of Dr. Shamsul Alam Khan Milan, a martyr of the 1990 people's uprising, Mirza Fakhrul expressed deep concern. He said, "In these past few days, we are extremely worried, anxious, and horrified. Can you imagine the kind of madness surrounding religion in Bangladesh? Can you imagine that the offices of the free media, for which we fought for so long, are being burned down? This is not the Bangladesh we want to see, at least not me."

Explaining the situation of the past three months, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that within three months of the August revolution, the true nature of the situation has started to unfold. He expressed deep concern over the recent protests and clashes in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other places, and said, "With this kind of reality, success can never be achieved, no matter how much we talk or give long speeches. If there is division within our own house, we will never be able to fix it."

Considering the overall situation in the country, it can be inferred that we are standing on the edge of a fire pit. Efforts to destabilize Bangladesh are happening from both internal and external sides. The interim government has been in power for about four months, but law and order in the country has not yet been restored. The date for the next election has not been set, although an election commission has been formed. However, there are questions about this too: why was the election commission formed before the necessary reforms were made? Will the election commission be able to conduct a fair election without completing these reforms? Six commissions have been formed for reforms, and there are plans to form four more. But there are questions about what reforms they will carry out, whether they can do it, and how long it will take to complete the reform process. Meanwhile, although political parties are not putting direct pressure on the government for elections, they are urging for elections to be held as soon as possible. Overall, it is evident that the interim government is under pressure. This was also apparent in a recent interview with Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, where he mentioned that the advisors want to be relieved of their duties as soon as possible. Does this mean that the advisors are feeling more burdened by the pressure of their responsibilities than by a sense of duty?

Historically, there have been four types of interim governments in political history: revolutionary interim governments, reformist or power transfer interim governments, caretaker governments responsible for conducting elections, and international interim governments. In the context of Bangladesh, the current interim government can be categorized as a reformist or power transfer interim government. Their responsibility is to stabilize institutions and create an environment conducive to holding a fair election. After a people's uprising, it often falls upon the interim government to restore the democratic environment of the country. However, the question remains as to how much the current interim government in Bangladesh will be able to restore the democratic environment, because democracy depends on a nation's long-standing cultural activities.

The current interim government is making constitutional reforms and addressing some institutional issues, but it cannot be said that they have had a significant influence or intervention in the country's overall cultural landscape. Most importantly, the interim government has not yet presented a comprehensive roadmap, which has left the public in a state of uncertainty. Meanwhile, there are reports that students are planning to form a political party. The National Citizens Committee, composed of students, has announced that their political party will be launched by February and they plan to participate in the upcoming elections. They are already preparing for their participation in the elections. With three months left until February, it can be inferred that elections are unlikely to take place within the next six months. It may take another year or so before elections are held.

We still do not know whether the Awami League will be banned or whether they will be allowed to participate in the elections. The general public is filled with uncertainty. In such a scenario, the situation in the country is becoming increasingly unclear. The recent communal riots have further exacerbated fears about a dire future. Aside from urging everyone to remain patient, it feels like there is little else that can be done. Patience is indeed the biggest test now, but how long can the people of the country continue to endure? With flames rising from all sides, everyone is anxious, fearing when and where the fires will burn and what will be destroyed.