A Bangladeshi education ministry order demanding officers report institutions and pupils involved in anti-government “provocative activities” was withdrawn on Wednesday after criticism it undermined the spirit of last year’s student-led revolution.

The mass uprising spearheaded by students toppled long-time autocrat Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, with an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus taking charge.

The order, signed by the ministry’s director of its “monitoring and evaluation” for secondary education, Abed Nomani, was issued on January 2 — but shot to attention after it circulated on social media and in newspapers.

Wahiduddin Mahmud, the education minister, said he had not been aware of the order and that it had been cancelled. “The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education was not instructed to issue any notification,” he said. “This matter will be investigated”.

The now cancelled order had told officials to “remain vigilant and proactive in preventing students from engaging in provocative actions, driven by propaganda, misinformation, or disinformation against the government or the country”.

It did not provide clarification on what those actions might include.

“Officials must notify the authorities if any educational institution or student is involved in provocative activities, so that necessary measures can be taken,” it added.

Supreme Court lawyer Snehadri Chakravarty had earlier called it a clear violation of constitutional rights. “Student-led protests once toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina because people’s freedom of speech and expression was being curtailed,” Chakravarty told AFP.

“Within five months, some factions of the government appear to be echoing her actions,” he added. “This type of notification is not in line with the spirit of the mass uprising, which claimed so many lives”.

More than 800 people died in the months of protests that culminated in the ouster of Hasina’s government on August 5, according to the interim government.

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.