NEW DELHI: Despite an interim government having taken over in Bangladesh nearly two weeks ago, the situation is yet to limp back to normalcy. Journalists are being arrested, while Hindu teachers are losing their jobs. Further, students have set up vigilante groups and are giving sermons to citizens on how to conduct themselves.
Journalists considered close to the Hasina-led regime are being viewed as criminals. The former editor of a private channel Shakil Ahmed and his wife Farzana Rupa, also a journalist, were arrested at Dhaka airport along with their daughter on Wednesday when they were trying to go to France.
Meanwhile, nearly 70 Hindu teachers from various schools and colleges have allegedly been forced to resign. These include Geetanjali Barua, Principal of Azimpur Government Girls School and College, who was tied to a tree by her students. The army had to intervene and rescue her.
Similarly, Sonali Rani Das was forced to resign. She was an Assistant Professor of Holi Red Crescent Nursing College.
"In the real sense of the term, normalcy hasn’t returned to Bangladesh. There is tension even though people are moving out of their houses to return to their earlier routine," Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kallilmullah, a political commentator, told The New Indian Express.
Self-proclaimed revolutionaries who are basically student vigilante groups are giving sermons on right conduct. They are pulling up smokers and warning them to abstain. They are also telling businessmen not to take more than 5 taka as profit on their sale, which is in sync with radical Islam.
Shortage of cash continues as top bankers have fled from private banks.
The BNP is in a triumphant mood and already imagining that it is in power. A handful of Awami League supporters who tried to pay tribute to Bangabandhu on August 15th were roughed up. One person suffered a cardiac arrest and died.
"There are many names circulating to replace Sheikh Hasina as the President of Awami League. Elections will not be announced for a long time and there is talk of even banning the Awami League," said a source from Dhaka.
