Post by : Rameen Ariff

Under growing pressure from hardline Islamic clerics, the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has abandoned plans to appoint music and physical education instructors to state-run primary schools, rekindling debate about the secular character of the country's education system.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said on Monday that the newly created positions for music and physical education teachers have been taken out of the revised recruitment rules. The initial scheme published in August had envisaged four assistant-teacher categories; the amended rules now list only two.

Ministry official Masud Akhtar Khan confirmed the adjustment, saying the assistant-teacher posts for music and physical education were omitted from the updated regulations. He would not say whether the change was made in response to pressure from Islamist groups.

The reversal follows strong objections from several conservative organisations, including Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, which condemned the recruitment as part of an "un-Islamic and atheistic agenda."

At a large rally in September, clerical leaders accused the Yunus administration of introducing "anti-Islamic values" into schools. Syed Rezaul Karim, head of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, warned that "religion-loving people of Bangladesh" would take to the streets unless the government complied.

The groups argued that including music and physical education in primary curricula would "corrupt children’s morals" and "undermine their faith," calling instead for schools to hire only religious instructors.

Observers say the decision highlights the expanding influence of Islamist actors over the interim administration. They point to earlier occasions when the Yunus government is said to have relented to clerical pressure, including shelving a proposed women’s reform commission after it was denounced as "anti-Islamic."

Analysts warn the step risks weakening Bangladesh’s secular foundations and emboldening hardline voices. Critics caution the country, once known for cultural pluralism, could slide toward more conservative approaches in education and governance.

For many, the removal of the posts is more than an administrative change; it signals a shift in the balance of authority between secular institutions and religious groups, with potential long-term effects on policy-making.

Opponents of the move say it sets a worrying precedent of religious groups shaping state decisions, while supporters claim it reflects popular sentiment and respect for religious norms.

The episode underscores a tense and evolving political dynamic in Bangladesh, as Islamist organisations assert greater influence over national policy and the interim government navigates competing pressures.

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