MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –
Source: The Holy See in Italian
Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation we are experiencing now, after the political and social crisis of last August, is delicate. There is still tension in society, there are protests especially by young people. The massive student demonstration caused the prime minister to leave and flee abroad. Now the new interim government, led by Mohamed Yunus, has a difficult task: to heal the political, social and economic wounds, restore trust and also maintain the rule of law, because there are also some worrying signs”: explains to Agenzia Fides Mgr. Subroto Boniface Gomes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka. The Bishop notes some possible “dangers” existing in the expressions of “student power”. “For example – he says – in some Catholic schools in the diocese of Dhaka, students tried to force the dismissal of some teachers – regularly chosen and paid by the school administration – only because, in their opinion, they were not aligned and compliant with the new course, or because they had somehow dared to criticize the student protest. This has generated a crisis within our schools, which are attended by 95% Muslim or non-Christian students. Faced with the attempt to forcefully impose this or other measures, such as accepting girls wearing the burqa at school, the Archbishop, with a sensational choice, decided to close the schools. One was a girls’ school, another is run by the Brothers of the Holy Cross. At that point, the concerted intervention of the parents’ committee, religious leaders and school staff allowed for dialogue, a peaceful solution to the crisis and the reopening of the schools. We could not give in on our values and principles. But it is an example to say that the legitimate rights of students must not encroach on and undermine democracy, the rule of law, or the rights of others,” notes Msgr. Gomes. Another aspect to keep under control, then, “is the return or reorganization of radical Islamic groups and parties that could penalize communities of minority religions or promote an agenda of Islamization. We must be vigilant on this aspect, because the temptation of extremism is just around the corner. It is essential not to polarize society. We trust in the new Yunus government to keep the course straight in terms of respect for democratic principles, respect for the Constitution and fundamental freedoms for all citizens, regardless of religion,” says the Bishop. Last July, thousands of students took to the streets to protest against the Supreme Court’s decision to reintroduce a quota system for access to public employment that allocated 30% of jobs to the children and grandchildren of veterans of the 1971 war of independence. Shehik Hasina’s government responded to the demonstrations by deploying police and paramilitary forces who shot at the crowd. The protest thus turned into a movement against Hasina and her party, the Awami League, who led the country for 15 years, often delegitimizing or arresting political opponents and dissidents. The official toll of the repression is around a thousand dead and hundreds injured. On August 5, the prime minister fled abroad, taking refuge in India. The army intervened by dissolving Parliament and then appointed Muhammad Yunus, known as the “banker of the poor”, an 84-year-old economist, known for the “Grameen Bank”, specialized in the microcredit system, as head of an interim government, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. The executive is leading a delicate transition phase while waiting for new elections. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2024) Share:
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.