Bangladesh at Crossroads As Islamists Rise Before Polls
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India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
This Muslim nation imposes Taliban dress code; women banned from wearing shorts, leggings, sleeveless shirts in..., and then...
Representational Image In yet another attempt at Taliban-esque moral policing by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Bank issued a diktat barring female employees from donning 'provocative' western outfits like short dresses, sleeveless shirts and leggings in the office. What did the order say? According to reports, the Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, had issued an order, directing women employees to wear 'decent and professional' clothing in the office, warning that the non-compliance with the office dress code would result in disciplinary action. 'Officials and employees at all levels should dress decently and professionally in accordance with the country's social norms,' the order read. The now rescinded order asked male workers to wear long or half-sleeved formal shirts, formal pants and shoes, while jeans and fancy pyjamas were not allowed. Similarly, it directed women employees to sarees, salwar-kameez, or any other 'simple, decent, professional attire' like a headscarf or hijab, but allowed formal sandals and shoes. The order also directed all departments to appoint an officer to monitor compliance with the dress code guidelines. However, the bank's Talibani diktat sparked a social media storm, forcing the institution to withdraw the directive after just three days. How Bangladeshi netizens responded? Taking to social media, netizens pointed out the hypocrisy reeking from bank's order, with one X user noting how daughter of the bank's governor could wear anything she wishes while employees were being forced to dress 'professionally' under the clandestine Islamic agenda which is being promoted in the country. Several users compared the directive to those imposed by the Afghan Taliban regime. 'Rule of a vigilant dictator in the new Taliban era,' one user tweeted. Why Bangladesh Bank withdrew the order? Following the backlash, Bangladesh Bank withdrew the order on Thursday. 'The circular is purely an advisory. No compulsion has been imposed regarding wearing hijab or burqa,' the bank's spokesperson Arif Hussain Khan, said in a statement. Earlier, while speaking to the media, Fauzia Muslim, president of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, termed the move as 'unprecedented', alleging that 'a certain cultural environment is being shaped, and this directive reflects that effort.' Meanwhile, the Muhammad Yunus regime passed another controversial ordinance on late Wednesday which proposes action against employees protesting against the government.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Bangladesh: Gopalganj violence shows ugly side of new political order
Dhaka: Bangladesh's political theatre has always been animated, its vibrancy marred by episodes of violence that seem almost intrinsic to its narrative. In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's ouster from power in August last year, the country has been caught in a downward spiral of unrest, with the streets increasingly overtaken by chaos and common citizens bearing the brunt of growing insecurity. The interim government, despite its stated commitment to restoring order, appears unable—or perhaps unwilling — to rein in this spiralling disorder. With the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray, a vacuum has emerged — one that has not necessarily been filled with stability. Instead, political rivalries have intensified. Formerly united in opposition to the League, parties have begun turning on each other, vying for dominance in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Among them, the National Citizen's Party (NCP), born from the fervour of last July's student uprising, has emerged as a powerful and provocative force. Its meteoric rise has further stoked tensions in a country still grappling with the remnants of its former ruling party's influence. The Gopalganj incident on July 16 starkly illustrated the dark side of this new political order. The NCP's ambitious cross-country campaign, titled 'March to Build the Country', aimed to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising. What began as a rally to showcase unity and purpose soon devolved into violence when NCP members clashed with elements of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League — once the student wing of the Awami League. Reports confirmed that crude explosives were hurled, resulting in five fatalities and over 50 injuries. While the Awami League may be officially dissolved, its grassroots presence and legacy evidently persist. More worryingly, the clash also laid bare the NCP's own descent into authoritarian conduct. The party, which has for months championed the banning of the Awami League and vilified its supporters as 'fascists', now finds itself mirroring the very traits it once condemned. The violence in Gopalganj — a town symbolically tethered to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — was no accident. NCP's provocative choice of location, viewed by many as an intentional attempt to desecrate Mujib's legacy, has sparked fears of a coordinated campaign to erase the historical and ideological foundations of Bangladesh itself. In recent months, the NCP has positioned itself at the forefront of the national discourse, pushing for three primary goals: the permanent banning of the Awami League, completion of the July Uprising trial, and formal adoption of the July Charter as a foundational document. The interim government initially resisted such moves. The Chief Advisor had even remarked that it was up to the Awami League to decide whether or not to participate in elections. But following the NCP's May demonstration in Dhaka, the government changed course. The League's registration was revoked by the Election Commission on May 12, and all its political activities were halted pending the outcome of the July trials. The global community, however, did not take kindly to the move. Several international observers condemned the decision as a deviation from democratic norms. Banning the country's oldest and arguably most historically significant political party has triggered concerns about the interim government's impartiality and the future of pluralistic politics in Bangladesh. While the NCP paints the Awami League as fascist, it is becoming evident that the new party harbours its own ideological extremism. The assault on Mujibism is no longer rhetorical. There is a calculated effort underway to purge the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation — from every public space. Following Hasina's removal, state-led actions have facilitated the removal of his portraits, cancellation of holidays commemorating his achievements, renaming of institutions, rewriting of textbooks, and even demolition of historical landmarks associated with him. The transformation is not limited to just politics. It extends to a cultural revolution aimed at redrawing the ideological map of the nation. The existing Constitution, promulgated in 1972 with secular and nationalist ideals derived from the Liberation War, has come under attack. The NCP, backed by Islamist groups, has denounced it as a 'Mujibbadi' document and has called for the elimination of its core principles. This demand challenges the very ethos of Bangladesh's struggle for freedom and its subsequent nation-building project. The interim government's complicity is hard to ignore. Rather than acting as a neutral custodian of national stability, it has quietly enabled these measures. The symbolic erasure of Mujib's legacy is most evident in the demolition of sites like Mirza Alam Chattar in Jamalpur and the Bangabandhu memorial in Jessore — both being replaced with monuments commemorating the July Uprising. These acts have drawn sharp criticism, with citizens, historians, and civil society figures warning against rewriting history to suit the narrative of a single political faction. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Gopalganj, the birthplace and burial site of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The NCP's decision to hold a rally there was widely viewed as provocative. Eyewitnesses and media reports suggest that NCP cadres, some armed, unleashed violence on civilians — allegedly with backing from military personnel deployed for crowd control. The Bangladesh Army's involvement in the crackdown has raised serious questions about its neutrality. The UK-based International Crime Research Foundation has called for a UN-led investigation into what it describes as a "premeditated assault" on the mausoleum of Bangladesh's founding father. The silence of the interim government on the Gopalganj incident speaks volumes. Many believe it to be tacit approval of the NCP's radical agenda. Nahid Islam, NCP's convenor, has made increasingly inflammatory statements since the event — referring to Gopalganj as a "fascist stronghold" and even going so far as to declare that Ziaur Rahman, not Mujib, was the true proclaimer of Bangladesh's independence. Such remarks not only distort historical facts but seek to alter the collective memory of the nation. In effect, the political violence in today's Bangladesh is not merely the result of power struggles. It is deeply intertwined with a concerted campaign to dismantle Sheikh Mujib's ideological influence. The NCP's insistence on an Awami League-free Bangladesh betrays the principles of inclusive democracy. No matter how tainted a party may appear in the court of public opinion, true democratic practice demands space for all voices — including dissenting and unpopular ones. The Gopalganj tragedy has exposed a hard truth: in trying to rid the nation of one form of political dominance, Bangladesh may be sliding into another—this time cloaked in the rhetoric of revolutionary justice and popular sentiment. But such a trajectory threatens not only the stability of the state but also the moral compass of its polity. Erasing history, however flawed, is no path to genuine reform. In today's Bangladesh, the lines between victim and aggressor, fascist and liberator, are increasingly blurred. If the nation is to emerge from this era of polarisation and purges, it must reclaim its commitment to truth, reconciliation, and political pluralism—before another chapter of its history is written in blood.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Prez completes 3 yrs in office; says always endeavours to connect all with nation's progress
New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu completed three years in office on Friday and said she always endeavours to effectively connect all sections of society, especially the underprivileged and backward classes, with the country's development journey. Prez completes 3 yrs in office; says always endeavours to connect all with nation's progress In her short remarks on the occasion of the launch of various initiatives to mark the third year of her presidency, she expressed happiness over the fact that Rashtrapati Bhavan became more accessible for divyangjan . Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President on July 25, 2022, making her the country's first tribal head of state. The president said that it is a matter of satisfaction that in the past three years, many decisions were taken and works were done which increased the engagement of citizens with Rashtrapati Bhavan. "It is always our endeavour to effectively connect all sections of society, especially the underprivileged and backward classes, with the country's development journey," she said. President's Estate has become divyangjan-friendly estate, according to a statement issued by Murmu's office. The president expressed confidence that various new initiatives will take place in the coming days, it said. "Rashtrapati Bhavan, Amrit Udyan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum became divyangjan-friendly premises after implementing the 50-point recommendation by the Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities," the statement said. Murmu launched the commencement of initiatives to make Rashtrapati Bhavan "Net Zero" by March 2027. The official websites of Rashtrapati Bhavan are now available in 22 Indian languages, the statement said. The President also launched 'e-Upahaar season 2' to auction over 250 items, according to the statement. e-Upahaar is an auction portal of President's Secretariat meant for auctioning of gift items presented to President and former Presidents of India "All proceeds from the auction will be donated to initiatives supporting the welfare of children," the statement said. Various facilities for visitors and residents of the President's Estates, such as the visitor facilitation centre at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Nilayam Nikunj at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Hyderabad, cafeteria, souvenir shop and reception at Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra and a renovated gym at the President's Estate here were also launched by the president. On the occasion, an e-book carrying glimpses of the past one year of Murmu's presidency was also launched. A page titled "Global Bonds" gave details of her foreign trips mentioning that the president visited New Zealand, Fiji, Timor-Leste, Algeria, Mauritania, Malawi, Portugal, the Slovak Republic and Rome. She is the first Indian head of state to have visited Fiji, Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi, according to the e-book. Murmu received the highest award in Fiji and Timor-Leste and an honorary doctorate in Algeria and the Slovak Republic during her visit. The president, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, visited Siachen base camp and paid tributes at the Siachen war memorial, the e-book mentions. She has been promoting inclusivity through different initiatives, including hosting of a 'purple fest' and inviting divyangjans to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and its famed Amrit Udyan. Murmu met tribal leaders from various walks of life and different regions of the country, the e-book mentions in a page titled 'Tribal Connect'. She met children during her visits in various parts of the country and promoted women-led development through interacting with women from all walks of life, especially from tribal and self-help groups, it said. "The President delivered around 25 convocation addresses including at AIIMS, National Institute of Designs, BIT Mesra, NALSAR and National Forensic Sciences University," the e-book said. The President's office also took steps to further increase citizen engagement with the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Over 11 lakh people have visited Amrit Udyan, around 2.5 lakh to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and 3.4 lakh to the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum, it said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
