Questions have been raised over whether growing unrest is being triggered by the interim government's lack of coordination and responsibility in handling important national matters. Recent developments, according to political observers, reflect a pattern of indecisive governance.
Politicians say the government’s failure to act promptly has pushed situations beyond its control. For some time now, the administration has shown signs of internal disarray, with conflicting statements emerging from different figures holding key positions.
The indecision over postponing Tuesday’s HSC examinations following the Milestone plane crash, as well as the announcement and subsequent withdrawal of a fundraising appeal for the victims, are being cited as clear examples of this disjointed and inconsistent decision-making.
Following the tragic incident at Milestone, demands for the suspension of Tuesday’s HSC exams were raised from multiple quarters. Protests were held in the capital on Monday night. Online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya wrote on his Facebook page that he personally called the education adviser to recommend postponing the exams. However, the education ministry had not issued any official decision by midnight.
National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam provided an even more concerning detail, stating that several advisers reportedly failed to reach the education adviser by phone.
Around 2:45 am, a Facebook post from Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam announced that he had met with the education adviser, who had decided to postpone that day’s HSC and equivalent examinations.
Around the same time, another Facebook post from Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan also declared that the exams had been postponed.
At around 3:00 am, Public Relations Officer Md Mamunur Rashid of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared an "urgent press release" on a WhatsApp group for journalists, stating that the HSC and equivalent exams scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, had been suspended due to casualties caused by a military aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara. He said the education adviser had confirmed this decision to the information adviser.
However, the education ministry or the education boards did not issue any official statement on the matter.
It was only on Tuesday morning that the press wing of the chief adviser’s office publicly announced the postponement. Around the same time, the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee released a press note confirming the suspension of exams.
Despite a full day having passed since the crash, no action had been taken by either the ministry or the boards. The final decision came when only a few hours remained before the scheduled exam time—and not from the relevant ministry. This triggered anger among students. Protests erupted not only at the Secretariat but in different parts of the country. A group of students staged a sit-in outside the Secretariat, demanding the resignation of the education adviser. In response, the government announced the withdrawal of the education secretary. By that time, however, the protests had turned violent. Students stormed the Secretariat and began vandalizing property. Security forces later dispersed the crowd. The Secretariat and Gulistan areas remained tense throughout the day.
Speaking at a press conference, National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam said the situation that unfolded from Monday through Tuesday could have been handled with more responsibility and empathy. “We believe the government failed to act responsibly, and its delay in taking timely decisions allowed things to spiral out of control,” he said. “You have seen everything that happened today. We support the six-point demand raised by Milestone students. Some advisers behaved irresponsibly—particularly the education adviser. At 3 or 4 am, we’re being informed of exam suspensions. Other advisers can’t reach him. If this is the condition of the government—where there is no coordination among its own advisers—while students across the country are traumatized, then, of course, there will be uncertainty and anxiety. Had the advisers acted responsibly, this situation might have been avoided.”
Commenting on the obstruction of two advisers at Milestone, Nahid Islam further said, “The education adviser, who acted irresponsibly during the night, returned to the scene without offering a public apology. Throughout this incident, we saw a complete lack of accountability from several government advisers. The entire nation is in trauma, and their conduct has only deepened public resentment.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a verified Facebook post from the chief adviser’s page called for financial contributions for victims of the Milestone School and College plane crash. The post read: “For those who wish to assist the victims of the training aircraft crash at Milestone School and College, please consider donating to the Relief and Welfare Fund at the following account. Account name: Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund. Current Account No. 010733004093, Sonali Bank Ltd., Chief Adviser’s Office Corporate Branch.” The post sparked widespread criticism on social media and was removed shortly thereafter.
Addressing both incidents, online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya posted: “The interim government has gone mad. They asked for money through the chief adviser’s relief fund... then deleted the post. They blundered all night just to decide on postponing the exam—even though I gave this advice for free at 3:00 pm yesterday. And this morning, they posted about donations... The problem is they always read the public mood as negative populism. What can I even say about these elderly advisers—we’ve put them on pedestals by offering free service. The health adviser himself is an elderly and unwell person. They’ve been handed the state, and yet they can do nothing. Students are storming the Secretariat. A lesson needs to be taught.”
Responding to a question from Banglanews about the government’s coordination failure, Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and coordinator of the Left Democratic Alliance, said, “We’ve been observing this lack of coordination in the government for a long time. Different people say different things at different times. This is especially noticeable among spokespersons and officials. A government functions from a central command—but this kind of disjointed messaging raises questions about where that center actually is. People are confused and uncertain. The tragic plane crash at Milestone was followed by an appeal for donations, then that appeal was withdrawn, then the HSC exam was postponed in the middle of the night. Many such incidents show a clear breakdown in coordination. This breeds instability. If this continues, the country will become even more unstable. That’s why we’ve long called for a proper election and a handover of power to an elected government. The longer this is delayed, the greater the instability will grow.”
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