A wave of national grief and tension has spread across the country after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed in the Milestone School and College area of Uttara, Dhaka.
On one side, there are allegations of enforced disappearances; on the other, protests and attacks on the Secretariat by students blaming government failure after the incident have plunged the nation into chaos.
Against this backdrop, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus met with four political parties on Tuesday: BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and his National Citizen Party (NCP). On Wednesday, he held discussions with 12 more parties.
Was the tragedy at Milestone School foreseen?
Yunusโ orange juice photoshoot mocks mourning for Milestone victims
Analysts say Yunus always turns back to his old alliesโthe very parties that helped bring him to powerโwhenever there is a crisis. And every time tensions rise, he calls for a so-called โanti-fascist unity.โ
According to official reports, as of 11am Wednesday, the government confirmed 29 deaths. However, the ISPR had reported 31 deaths as of 12pm Tuesday.
The discrepancies not only concern the death toll but also the number of injured, which has varied widely across sources. These conflicting figures have fuelled rumours and misinformation on social media.
Meanwhile, protests by students in front of the Secretariat demanding the resignation of Education Adviser C.R. Abrar have turned violent, with clashes between students and police injuring at least 80. In the midst of this turmoil, numerous social media posts calling for the return of Sheikh Hasina have gone viral.
In response to police intervention in student and parent protests over the casualties from the plane crash, three partiesโincluding the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)โstaged a symbolic walkout from a dialogue organised by the National Consensus Commission.
Yet instead of resolving the crisis, Legal Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul once again staged the drama of โanti-fascist unity.โ At a press conference held Tuesday night at the state guesthouse Jamuna, he said,
“The chief adviser didnโt just talk about unity; he wants the partiesโ unity to be more visible.”
He added: “The chief adviser has stated that whether it’s about resisting fascism or implementing constructive programs, unity among the parties will bring relief to the people. Seeing all parties together will make the public feel reassured.”
Awami League urges global protest against Milestone attack
Milestone plane crash: How Yunus, army are trying to suppress death toll
However, according to analysts, this so-called unity is not for the peopleโs interest but rather a distraction from the political crisisโan old tactic disguised under the label of โanti-fascist unity.โ Whenever public outrage grows, Yunus and his close circle revive this theatrical narrative.
Analysts say that the Yunus-led government’s actions have now reached a point where public trust is eroding. Especially after the fighter jet crash, the inconsistencies in casualty figures, repression of protesting students, and administrative negligence regarding exam-related issues have all contributed to deep public frustration.
They argue that each time the public raises its voice, the Yunus government invokes the tale of anti-fascist unity. Itโs an old strategyโused to divert attention from crises. In reality, there appears to be no sincere intention from the government to lead the country forward through genuine unity or dialogue.
English