Bangladesh crisis: Prof Yunus and BNP on collision course?

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Is Bangladesh moving towards another chaotic crisis? The caretaker government spearheaded by student's movement with Nobel laureate Professor Mohammed Yunus in command is trying to find its feet on the ground even as the former Opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) have raised demands for holding immediate elections.

Already the banned fundamentalists organisations Jaamat and Hefazat are saddled in the government and are invited to all official functions. Hefazat and Jamaat are accused of terrorising Hindu minority community members and land grabbing and carrying out criminal activities. According to information available with the intelligence agencies in Bangladesh, Hefazat and Jaamat have called for implementing Islamic law in the country.

``They want to change the fabric of the country and turn it into a theocratic country,'' a local resident in Dhaka on condition of anonymity said. Professor Yunus has held his ground so far but for how long is anybody's guess as he is forced to accommodate both hardline Jamaat and Hefazat into his caretaker government.