Bangladesh’s interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus is facing criticism for abandoning plans to recruit music and physical education teachers in primary schools after Islamist groups, such as Hefazat-e-Islam, labeled these posts “un-Islamic” and threatened unrest. Critics describe this reversal as “cultural fascism,” calling for the reinstatement of the canceled positions that were initially part of a progressive educational initiative.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education revised recruitment policies, omitting music and PE posts, with Yunus’s spokesperson minimizing the importance of these roles. This decision incited protests at Dhaka University and Jagannath University, where students emphasized the importance of arts for child development and cultural flourishing, denouncing the administration’s capitulation to Islamist pressure.
Protests highlighted concerns over the administration’s previous concessions on cultural and women’s rights, suggesting a trend towards appeasing religious factions at the expense of Bangladesh’s secular identity. The overarching question remains whether the Yunus administration will prioritize holistic education or continue to yield to Islamist demands, further undermining the country’s secular values.
