Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: The Bangladesh government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has scrapped advertising for PT and music teachers at universities across the country. This was done in response to threats from Islamist groups demanding the appointment of religious teachers. The cancellation of advertisements have triggered protests in Dhaka.
Since it came to power after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, the Yunus regime has faced allegations of bowing to religious extremists.
On August 28, the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025 gazette was issued. It advertised the vacancies for music and physical education teachers. But, a revised circular was issued on Sunday. It was signed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The revised circular excluded both the positions.
The government took the decision following a threat issued by Islamist outfits. These groups said that such jobs were "un-Islamic". They warned of hitting the streets if the Bangladesh interim government proceeded with the appointments. These Islamist groups included Hefazat-e-Islam and Islami Andolon Bangladesh. They exerted pressure on the government to recruit religious teachers instead of PT and music teachers.
On Thursday, students and faculty from the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University (JnU), Chittagong University (CU), and Rajshahi University (RU) staged protests in Dhaka as a response to government move. The students and faculty from the music, drama, and dance departments of the University of Dhaka gathered at the Oporajeyo Bangla sculpture to voice their anger. At Jagannath University, students formed a human chain on the campus. The Literature and Culture Secretary of Dhaka Central Students’ Union and culture secretaries from various other unions also joined the protests.
At Rajshahi University, students from the Music Department carried out a protest in front of the university’s Senate Building. Faculty and students from the Departments of History, Philosophy, and Islamic History and Culture also joined them. The protesters presented a list of demands and concluded the protest with musical performances. On Chittagong University campus, students of the Music and Physical Education departments staged a protest at the university’s Shaheed Minar and sang songs.
Azizur Rahman Tuhin, a music department teacher, was quoted as saying by Daily Star: “If I want my child to grow up as a proper human being in the future, can I raise them to be a worthy person without music education, cultural education, and physical exercise?”
Israfil Shahin, a teacher from the Theatre and Performance Studies department, underlined, “A state cannot flourish through religion alone. Culture never opposes religion.”
Singer Shayan remarked, “There’s a group trying to pit music and religion against each other. Instead of falling into this trap, respond with songs at every opportunity.”
Protesters regret that the policymakers are ignorant about the importance of music, as they see it as mere entertainment. They stoutly condemn the interim government’s attempt to remove the subjects. According to the protesters, art is the foundation of civilisation, and depriving students of the opportunity to study subjects like music would only affect their holistic development.
On Monday, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Primary and Mass Education revealed that the job offers for the positions had been withdrawn. Ministry official Masud Akhtar Khan said: “Although the rules issued last August had four categories of posts, two categories have been included in the amendment. The posts of assistant teachers for music and physical education are not in the new rules."
The Chief Adviser’s Office said that the proposal to hire music and PT teachers was withdrawn after a recommendation of the Secretaries’ Committee. The panel detected flaws and gaps in the development and feasibility of the programme.
