Dhaka: Protests, Border Tensions, and Aviation Mysteries

The Price of Appeasement: When Progress Takes a Step Back

It's a gut punch, isn't it? News out of Bangladesh about the interim administration caving to Islamist groups and scrapping music and physical education teacher positions in primary schools. I mean, really? In 2025? You'd think we'd be further along, wouldn't you? This isn't just about a few teaching jobs; it's about the soul of a nation, the future of its children, and the very definition of progress.

The initial advertisement included spots for general studies, religion, music, and physical education – a balanced, holistic approach. But then, the rug was pulled. Masud Akhtar Khan, a spokesperson for the Yunus administration, tried to downplay it, saying the positions wouldn't "yield effective results." Seriously? Is that the best they could come up with? It’s like saying, “We don’t need oxygen because breathing deeply doesn’t immediately solve all our problems."

A Symphony of Dissent

The response, thankfully, has been fierce. Students and faculty from Dhaka University and Jagannath University took to the streets, chanting, singing, demanding the reinstatement of these vital roles. I can almost see it – the vibrant colors, the passionate faces, the sheer sound of defiance echoing through the streets of Dhaka. Imagine the scene: music, drama, and dance departments united in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla statue, their voices rising in a chorus of protest. It's a powerful image, a reminder that culture is resistance.

Azizur Rahman Tuhin, a music teacher at Dhaka University, hit the nail on the head: "Civilisation survives on art, literature, and culture. Excluding music will hinder mental and physical growth." It's not just about learning notes or running laps; it's about developing well-rounded individuals, fostering creativity, and building a society that values more than just rote memorization.

And then there's Hema Chakma's accusation that student union representatives were calling the national anthem a "pagan" song. This is the kind of extremism that seeks to erase history, to rewrite the very fabric of a nation's identity. What kind of future are we building if we allow such voices to dictate policy?

This isn't an isolated incident, either. The Yunus administration, installed after the 2024 protests, has a track record of softening cultural reforms to appease Islamist groups. Backtracking on women's rights, for example. It's a slippery slope, a dangerous game of appeasement that ultimately undermines the country's secular foundations. It feels like watching a dam slowly crumble, brick by brick, as the floodwaters of extremism rise. News outlets have reported on the Cultural fascism: Protests in Dhaka as Yunus govt bows to Islamists on music. What this makes me wonder is, where is the line? How much will they concede before they realize they're sacrificing the very soul of Bangladesh? What's the long-term strategy here, and is it worth the cost?

And while we're talking about costs, let's not forget the human element. What about the children who will be denied the opportunity to explore their creativity, to develop their physical abilities, to connect with their culture through music and movement? What kind of message does this send to them? That their passions, their talents, their very identities are somehow less valuable than religious dogma? This reminds me of the dark ages of Europe when the church tried to suppress scientific and artistic progress, the cost of which was centuries of stagnation.

But here's the thing: progress isn't linear. There are setbacks, detours, and moments when it feels like we're moving backward. But the human spirit is resilient. It adapts, it perseveres, it finds new ways to express itself, to resist oppression, to build a better future.

This Isn't the End, It's a Wake-Up Call