• Public sector protests erupt over recent ordinance and salary demands.
• Political tension intensifies amid disputes over the election timeline.
• Yunus engages in discussions with major political parties.

On Monday, primary school teachers in Bangladesh joined public sector workers in protests against the interim government, fueled by rising frustration and political instability in the South Asian nation.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who took the helm as interim leader last August following violent protests from students that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is currently steering a nation of 173 million through a tumultuous transition.

His administration has been under pressure from various groups, including civil servants, educators, political factions, and even the military, as they aim to navigate this precarious period ahead of the upcoming general election.

Recently, the government enacted an ordinance that permits the Ministry of Public Administration to dismiss public employees for misconduct without lengthy procedures, causing backlash within the civil service.

Protesters maintained their demonstrations for a third day, labeling the ordinance as “repressive” and demanding its immediate repeal.

In addition, thousands of government primary school teachers initiated an indefinite strike on Monday, pressing for an increase in wages.

Amid protests from employees of the National Board of Revenue, the interim government withdrew a controversial decision to disband the tax agency in favor of two new divisions under the finance ministry, prompting the strike to be called off.

Political uncertainty deepened last week when a prominent student leader suggested that Yunus could step down if political parties fail to reach a consensus on reforms and election scheduling.

However, Wahiduddin Mahmud, a planning adviser in Yunus’s cabinet, insisted that the de facto prime minister has no plans to resign, stating, “We are not leaving until our mission is complete.” He acknowledged the challenges ahead but affirmed Yunus’s commitment to a fair election.

The interim government is caught between competing demands for swift elections and necessary reforms. Yunus indicated that elections might occur by June 2026, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is advocating for polls to take place by December.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, added to the urgency, calling for December elections during a recent speech, expressing concern over the political climate.

In response, Yunus convened an urgent meeting of his Advisory Council on Saturday and engaged in discussions over the weekend with key political players, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the student-led National Citizen Party.

Moreover, leaders of various political groups also met with Yunus during this period.

“We are in a wartime scenario,” stated Shafiqul Alam, Yunus’s press secretary, to the media on Sunday. “Following a ban on Awami League activities, there are various attempts to destabilize us. We need to navigate this situation.”

This month, the registration of Hasina’s Awami League party was suspended, effectively preventing the party from participating in the next elections.