Bangladesh’s Yunus Govt Bows To Islamists; Scraps Music, PE Teacher Posts In School

Last Updated:November 04, 2025, 10:59 IST

Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has scrapped music and physical education teacher posts in schools after Islamist groups denounced the move as “un-Islamic.”

Yunus Govt Retreats on Plan to Introduce Music, PE in Schools

Bangladesh’s interim government has scrapped the posts of music and physical education teachers in government-run primary schools, yielding to sustained pressure from Islamist groups who denounced the initiative as “un-Islamic". The decision marks a sharp reversal from earlier plans introduced under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s administration to promote cultural education alongside religious and academic studies.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education announced the change on Monday, stating that the new recruitment rules would exclude the posts of assistant teachers for music and physical education. 

“Although the rules issued last August had four categories of posts, two categories have been included in the amendment. The posts of assistant teachers for music and physical education are not in the new rules," said ministry official Masud Akhtar Khan. When asked if the move followed pressure from religious groups, Khan refused to comment, saying only, “You can check for yourself."

What led to this?

The decision follows months of protests by Islamist organisations who labelled the initiative part of an “anti-Islamic agenda". Groups including Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, and Hefazat-e-Islam had held rallies condemning the government’s efforts to introduce music and dance into primary education.

At one such rally in September, Islami Andolon Bangladesh chief Syed Rezaul Karim said, “You want to appoint music teachers? What will they teach? You want to make our children disrespectful, unruly, and characterless? We will never tolerate that." He warned that “Islam-loving people" would take to the streets if their demands were ignored.

Islamist leaders claimed the move was “indirectly connected to an atheistic philosophy aimed at making the future generation faithless". They demanded that government schools appoint only religious teachers, threatening large-scale protests if the Yunus administration failed to comply.

Rising Islamist influence under Yunus

The Yunus-led interim government’s reversal comes amid growing criticism that it has capitulated to religious hardliners. Once restrained under ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Islamist groups have grown emboldened, pushing an increasingly conservative agenda.

The same groups recently called for a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), describing it as an “extremist organisation". Earlier this year, they also threatened violence if the government implemented the recommendations of a women’s reform commission.

The developments shows the deepening influence of Islamist groups in shaping public policy in Bangladesh. A country once celebrated for its secular, cultural, and artistic heritage now faces growing pressure to align with religious conservatism.

Shuddhanta Patra

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...Read More

Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public...

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News world Bangladesh’s Yunus Govt Bows To Islamists; Scraps Music, PE Teacher Posts In School

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