Teachers' Network questions July Charter, criticises Yunus' speech as 'offensive and hollow'

The University Teachers' Network has described the recently signed July National Charter as "questionable" and "failing to inspire public trust," while terming Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' speech during the signing ceremony "offensive, reactionary, and hollow."

In a statement today (19 October), the Network said that although the signing ceremony took place with much fanfare on 17 October at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, "public enthusiasm was notably absent from the event due to doubts surrounding the process and scope of the Charter's preparation."

The statement further said that the interim government's approach to establishing reform and consensus commissions and preparing the Charter "disappointed many who participated in the mass uprising."

"The government has become so detached from the people that many genuine voices - from the education and health sectors, as well as women, gender minorities, and indigenous communities - remain unaddressed in the recommendations and final Charter," it said.

The Network also criticised the government for excluding key stakeholders, including student leaders of the uprising, from the drafting process. 

"A false sense of 'unity' was propagated, but cracks in that facade became visible on the day of the signing, when a section of July fighters protested and police launched a shameful attack on them," it added.

According to the statement, the signing event appeared to serve a "specific political agenda" rather than promote genuine consensus. 

"The July Charter has failed to call for true unity and has instead become a source of division, which could trigger fresh political crises in the near future," the Network warned.

Referring to the Chief Adviser's 30-minute speech, the teachers said it reflected the same disunity that plagues the government and the consensus commission. 

"His speech, filled with rhetorical excess and elitist arrogance, offered nothing substantive to give the nation hope," they said.

It's the birth of a new Bangladesh: Yunus after signing July Charter

The Network condemned Yunus' repeated references to "barbarism" and "civilisation," describing them as "deeply offensive and rooted in colonial superiority."

Quoting from his remarks, the statement said Yunus told the audience:

"Through this Charter, we have achieved something great. We have come from barbarism to civilisation. We were in a barbaric world where there were no rules; people did whatever they wished. Now we have entered civilisation, one that others will look upon with envy."

Before concluding, Yunus again said, "We must prove through our actions that we have indeed moved from barbarism to civilisation. On paper, we have already shown it; now we must demonstrate it in practice."

"The Chief Adviser's words clearly echo the language of colonial academic discourse, which once justified imperialism by labelling colonised nations as 'uncivilised' and 'barbaric'," the Network said. 

It added that Yunus' remarks inadvertently align with "Western superiority narratives that historically underpinned 190 years of British colonial domination."

The statement also drew parallels with Bangladesh's struggle for independence. 

"Even though political failures over the past 55 years have hindered our progress, it does not mean we were 'barbaric' until now, or that this controversial July Charter will 'civilise' us," it said.

"Peddling notions of 'civilisation' serves only to legitimise colonial thinking," the Network continued. 

"Using terms like barbaric, savage, or uncivilised to describe others reflects a colonial mindset of superiority."

While acknowledging Yunus' global reputation as an academic and social thinker, the teachers expressed "shock" that he would use "colonial terminology" while holding the office of Chief Adviser.

"The University Teachers' Network strongly condemns this choice of words and the underlying elitist worldview it represents," the statement said, adding that it plans to release a detailed review of the July National Charter soon.