Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Reign of chaos: On Bangladesh’s inner tensions

​Reign of chaos: On Bangladesh’s inner tensions

Yunus is pushing Bangladesh to the brink (कगार) of instability (अस्थिरता)

Tensions (तनाव) between Bangladesh’s interim (अंतरिम) government, led by Muhammad Yunus, and the military are no longer (अब और नहीं) a secret. On Monday (May 26, 2025), an Army spokesperson publicly voiced (व्यक्त करना, कहना) opposition (विरोध) to the government’s proposal (प्रस्ताव) to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s conflict-torn (संघर्ष-ग्रस्त) Rakhine State, home to the persecuted (सताया हुआ) Rohingya (an ethnic Muslim minority group, in western Myanmar (Burma)). The government’s plan is to supply medicines and other aid, but the military believes it would pose (present, constitute, cause, produce, give rise to (a problem/danger)) significant security challenges. Last week, Bangladesh army chief, Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, expressed concerns about several of the government’s initiatives, including the so-called (तथाकथित) humanitarian (मानवीय) corridor, the potential (possible, likely, probable) foreign management of Chattogram Port, and the introduction of Starlink (a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to over 50 countries), Elon Musk’s satellite Internet service. He also urged the government to hold (conduct, organize) early elections for “a stable, elected government” that is capable of making decisions related to national security. Amid (in the middle of, surrounded by; during) the growing (increasing) rift, speculation (supposition, guesswork, thinking, thought, surmise) swirled in Dhaka last week that Mr. Yunus might step down (give up a job or position; leave, quit, resign, retire, stand down, call it a day). Later, a Cabinet member said that Mr. Yunus “is staying with us”, but the Army’s subsequent (following, ensuing, eventual, resultant) press conference suggests (indicate, denote, point to, signify) that the cold war (a state of political and military tension between two countries, especially superpowers (i.e. the U.S. and China). (or) a condition of extreme unfriendliness and hostilities between two equally powerful people) is far from (not, not at all; nowhere near, a long way from) over.

When Mr. Yunus, backed (support, endorse, uphold) by student groups, took over as the ‘Chief Adviser’ of the interim government on August 8, 2024, three days after the fall (defeat, downfall, decline, overthrow, failure) of the Hasina administration (government, regime), he promised to lead Bangladesh into a new dawn (rise, beginning, start) of democracy (a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through fairly & freely elected representatives) from the semi-authoritarian (oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian) years of the Awami League (one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)). But nine months on, he is still struggling to stabilise the country and rein in (to control, restrain, restrict, limit someone/something) the mobs (a large, disorganized, and often violent crowd of people). The government’s crackdown (getting tough, severe/stern measures, restriction, suppression/repression, clampdown) on the Awami League, one of Bangladesh’s largest political parties, has further eroded ((gradually) reduce, undermine, weaken, spoil, deteriorate, wear out) hopes for inclusive (all-embracing, all-inclusive, with everyone included, comprehensive) elections. Most of the party’s senior leaders are either in exile (banishment, expulsion, deportation; a person who lives away from his/her native country) or in hiding, while hundreds of party workers have been killed. Earlier this month, the interim government officially banned the Awami League, yielding (agree to, give in, give way, back down, go along with, submit, surrender) to pressure from the student leaders and Islamist (relating to Islamic fundamentalism) factions. Mr. Yunus and his allies, including the National Citizen Party, established by student leaders after Ms. Hasina’s fall, claim (assert, declare, state, maintain, insist, affirm, contend, profess) that elections can be held only by mid-next year, citing the need for electoral and political reforms. But the continued delay has sparked (cause, give rise to, provoke, incite, stir up) protests by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and drawn (be the cause of; attract) public criticism from the military. By postponing (delay, put off, reschedule, defer, shelve, suspend) the elections, suppressing (overpower, crush, silence, quell, quash, repress, throttle, clamp down on, crack down on) the Awami League, using both state and non-state tools (a person used by another; mechanism, instrument), and failing to restrain (restrict; limit; control) the mobs, Mr. Yunus, an unelected leader, is steering (direct, guide, take, lead) Bangladesh into deepening (growing, increasing, intensifying, strengthening, heightening) chaos (अव्यवस्था) and uncertainty. What Bangladesh urgently needs is a stable, legitimate (legal, lawful, authorized, recognized) government with a clear popular (public, societal, collective) mandate (approval, acceptance, endorsement, authority (given by a constituency to someone acting as its representative)). The interim government and all relevant stakeholders (a person with an interest in something) must prioritise holding inclusive, free and fair elections, at the earliest (as soon as possible, without delay, in a very quick time) possible opportunity, ensuring the participation (engagement, contribution, taking part, involvement) of all political factions.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.reign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शासन
English Meaning - rule; dominance, domination, influence, power, control, authority.

2.chaos (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अव्यवस्था
English Meaning - disorder, disarray, turmoil, disorganization, disruption.

3.tensions (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तनाव
English Meaning - strained relations, strain, unease.

4.brink (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कगार
English Meaning - edge/verge/end (of something).

5.instability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अस्थिरता
English Meaning - uncertainty, unpredictability, precariousness.

6.interim (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अंतरिम
English Meaning - provisional, temporary, short-term, transitional.

7.no longer (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - अब और नहीं
English Meaning - not any more.

8.voice (verb)

Hindi Meaning - व्यक्त करना, कहना
English Meaning - express, state, communicate.

9.opposition (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विरोध
English Meaning - resistance, objection, criticism, defiance, protest, discontent, disapproval, disagreement.

10.proposal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रस्ताव
English Meaning - suggestion, recommendation, advice, idea.

11.humanitarian (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - मानवीय
English Meaning - compassionate, humane, socially concerned.

12.conflict-torn (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - संघर्ष-ग्रस्त
English Meaning - (of a place) devastated, ruined, wrecked (by conflict).

13.persecuted (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सताया हुआ
English Meaning - oppressed, victimized; troubled/suffering.

14.humanitarian aid (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मानवीय सहायता
English Meaning - material and logistic assistance that’s used to relieve suffering during emergency situations.

15.so-called (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तथाकथित
English Meaning - supposed, alleged, presumed, pretended.

16.humanitarian zones/corridors (noun)

English Meaning - humanitarian zones/corridors are temporary safe zones/passages established in specific geographic areas affected by armed conflict through agreements reached between conflicting parties. In general, humanitarian zones/corridors enable civilian movement during wars and conflict, evacuate wounded, sick, or deceased individuals, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

17.Rohingya (noun)

English Meaning - an ethnic Muslim minority group, in western Myanmar (Burma).

18.aid (noun)

English Meaning - help, support, assistance.

19.pose (verb)

English Meaning - present, constitute, cause, produce, give rise to (a problem/danger).

20.potential (adjective)

English Meaning - possible, likely, probable.

21.Starlink (noun)

English Meaning - a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to over 50 countries.

22.hold (verb)

English Meaning - conduct, organize.

23.amid (preposition)

English Meaning - in the middle of, surrounded by; during.

24.growing (adjective)

English Meaning - increasing.

25.rift (noun)

English Meaning - disagreement, dispute, conflict.

26.speculation (noun)

English Meaning - supposition, guesswork, thinking, thought, surmise.

27.swirl (verb)

English Meaning - circulate, revolve.

28.step down (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - give up a job or position; leave, quit, resign, retire, stand down, call it a day.

29.subsequent (adjective)

English Meaning - following, ensuing, eventual, resultant.

30.suggest (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, denote, point to, signify.

31.cold war (noun)

English Meaning - a state of political and military tension between two countries, especially superpowers (i.e. the U.S. and China). (or) a condition of extreme unfriendliness and hostilities between two equally powerful people.

32.far from (phrase)

English Meaning - not, not at all; nowhere near, a long way from.

33.back (verb)

English Meaning - support, endorse, uphold.

34.take over (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - assume, assume control of, take charge of.

35.fall (noun)

English Meaning - defeat, downfall, decline, overthrow, failure.

36.administration (noun)

English Meaning - government, regime.

37.dawn (noun)

English Meaning - rise, beginning, start.

38.democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through fairly & freely elected representatives.

39.semi- (prefix)

English Meaning - partly; half.

40.authoritarian (adjective)

English Meaning - oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

41.Awami League (noun)

English Meaning - one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

42.rein in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to control, restrain, restrict, limit someone/something.

43.mob (noun)

English Meaning - a large, disorganized, and often violent crowd of people

44.crackdown (noun)

English Meaning - getting tough, severe/stern measures, restriction, suppression/repression, clampdown.

45.erode (verb)

English Meaning - (gradually) reduce, undermine, weaken, spoil, deteriorate, wear out.

46.inclusive (adjective)

English Meaning - all-embracing, all-inclusive, with everyone included, comprehensive.

47.exile (noun)

English Meaning - banishment, expulsion, deportation; a person who lives away from his/her native country.

48.yield (verb)

English Meaning - agree to, give in, give way, back down, go along with, submit, surrender,

49.Islamist (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to Islamic fundamentalism.

50.faction (noun)

English Meaning - a small group within a larger one.

51.ally (noun)

English Meaning - partner, supporter, defender.

52.claim (verb)

English Meaning - assert, declare, state, maintain, insist, affirm, contend, profess.

53.cite (verb)

English Meaning - invoke, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to, have recourse to, use, put to use.

54.spark (verb)

English Meaning - cause, give rise to, provoke, incite, stir up.

55.draw (verb)

English Meaning - be the cause of; attract.

56.public (adjective)

English Meaning - widely known, overt, obvious.

57.postpone (verb)

English Meaning - delay, put off, reschedule, defer, shelve, suspend.

58.suppress (verb)

English Meaning - overpower, crush, silence, quell, quash, repress, throttle, clamp down on, crack down on.

59.actor (noun)

English Meaning - participants (in an action).

60.state actor (noun)

English Meaning - a state actor is a person who is acting on behalf of a governmental body.

61.non-state actor (noun)

English Meaning - an individual or organization that has significant political influence

62.tool (noun)

English Meaning - a person used by another; mechanism, instrument.

63.restraint (verb)

English Meaning - restrict; limit; control.

64.steer (verb)

English Meaning - direct, guide, take, lead.

65.deepening (adjective)

English Meaning - growing, increasing, intensifying, strengthening, heightening.

66.legitimate (adjective)

English Meaning - legal, lawful, authorized, recognized.

67.popular (adjective)

English Meaning - public, societal, collective.

68.mandate (noun)

English Meaning - approval, acceptance, endorsement, authority (given by a constituency to someone acting as its representative).

69.stakeholder (noun)

English Meaning - a person with an interest in something.

70.at the earliest (phrase)

English Meaning - as soon as possible, without delay, in a very quick time.

71.participation noun)

English Meaning - engagement, contribution, taking part, involvement.