Since assuming power on 8 August following the dramatic ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government, the interim administration has found itself ensnared in a relentless cycle of protests and demands.
Government advisers have been compelled to engage with demonstrators deep into the night, while citizens of the capital endure disruptions stemming from movements seeking financial concessions and policy changes.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the sheer volume of demands.
In just 46 days, 64 organisations have put forth 360 demands in Dhaka alone, with nationwide figures exceeding a thousand.
An analysis of the ongoing protests reveals two broad categories—one rooted in grievances over past injustices and another driven by aspirations for improved benefits.
The challenge for the administration lies in determining which demands can feasibly be addressed without crippling the national budget.
Political scientist and Open University’s pro-vice-chancellor, Professor Dil Rowshan Ara Jinnat Ara Naznin, opines that many of these demands are valid.
“For 17 years, people lacked the platform to voice their grievances. Their patience has run thin. However, from the government’s perspective, financial constraints remain a formidable hurdle,” she said.
“With Dr Yunus’s government attempting reforms, public expectations have soared, intensifying the scale of demands. The state must tread carefully, balancing realistic commitments with financial prudence," she added.
The early days of the administration saw protests from government employees who claimed to have been sidelined during the previous regime. In response, the government promoted 117 officials to deputy secretary and 201 to joint secretary, a move that increased state expenditure significantly.
Medical trainees, too, mobilised en masse, demanding an increase in their stipends. After staging a blockade in Shahbagh, they rejected an initial increment of Tk5,000 and insisted on a rise to Tk50,000.
Following further negotiations, the government settled on Tk35,000, adding an estimated Tk10 crore to the monthly state expenditure, given that there are around 10,000 trainee doctors nationwide.
Similarly, employees from state-run banks—Sonali, Janata, Agrani, and Rupali—secured promotions for 7,215 personnel, despite the lack of corresponding positions, inflating government expenditure further.
The proposed implementation of a dearness allowance for government officials would necessitate an additional Tk7,000 crore, although this remains suspended for now.
Public Sector Unrest and Industrial Action
Protests have extended beyond bureaucratic corridors to industrial zones and the transport sector.
Railway employees’ agitation disrupted nationwide train services until their demands for overtime benefits were addressed.
University officials at the University Grants Commission (UGC) protested for promotions, which were granted despite procedural irregularities.
Meanwhile, students have joined the fray.
Seven Dhaka-based government colleges, demanding full university status, have staged demonstrations, prompting the government to form committees to address their concerns.
Titumir College students, dissatisfied with this response, have issued ultimatums and continued their blockade in Mohakhali.
Public and private university students, protesting against tuition fees and trustee board irregularities, have resorted to besieging the UGC and the Education Ministry.
On the streets, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers, battery-powered rickshaw operators, and even pedal-rickshaw drivers have staged multiple protests, blocking key intersections in Dhaka.
Calls to raise the age limit for government job applications to 35 have led to repeated demonstrations, including one outside the Chief Adviser’s residence.
Challenges Ahead: A Deluge of New Demands
With each concession, new groups are emboldened to press their claims.
The government’s assurance to integrate Ibtedayi Madrasa teachers into the national system has triggered similar demands from other non-MPO educational institutions, which are now poised to launch a continuous sit-in from 12 February.
Private universities, too, are preparing to stage protests demanding the removal of VAT on tuition fees.
Analysts contend that never before in Bangladesh’s history has an administration faced such an overwhelming volume of demands in such a short span.
Meeting these expectations would require substantial budgetary adjustments, an outcome that could place unsustainable pressure on the national economy.
As the government struggles to navigate this political minefield, the question remains: How many of these demands can realistically be fulfilled before the weight of public expectation becomes too great to bear?
