Idioms and phrases used in the The Hindu editorial article: Reign of chaos: On Bangladesh’s most tumultuous phase

Idioms and phrases used in the The Hindu editorial article: Reign of chaos: On Bangladesh’s most tumultuous phase

The first appeal to the public from Muhammad Yunus, Nobel laureate and the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, after he landed in Dhaka from Paris on Thursday, was to “save the country from chaos and violence”. The octogenarian pioneer of microfinance is taking charge of the country at one of its most tumultuous phases. Days after former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina resigned and left amid violent mass protests, the nation of 170 million people remains on edge as violence refuses to recede. Law enforcement officials are missing and the state bureaucracy has become non-functional in the absence of a government. Extremist sections have used the chaos to target Hindus, Ahmedis, a minority sect in Islam, and Awami League functionaries. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the houses and shops of minorities were looted in several districts. Offices of the Awami League were vandalised and dozens of party functionaries and supporters were killed. Mr. Yunus, who was sworn in on Thursday (August 8, 2024), condemned the violence and appealed for calm. As the banker begins his role as an administrator, his challenge would be to bring Bangladesh back from the brink and restore the rule of law.

By appointing Mr. Yunus, someone who is acceptable to the student protesters and the political opposition, the military and Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin have shown signs of reconciliation. At a time when there is much hostility among political parties, an interim government headed by a technocrat is a pragmatic first step. But Mr. Yunus does not have the political machinery to back him up and will have to be dependent on the mainstream parties or the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He also faces three critical medium-term challenges. First, he has to make sure that the military stays in the barracks. The military has an infamous past and it took years of mass movement, led by Ms. Hasina and Khaleda Zia, the BNP leader, to bring the dictatorship to an end in 1990. Second, Mr. Yunus has to build at least temporary peace in Bangladesh’s polity. Ms. Hasina’s fall has empowered the Jamaat and the BNP. Jamaat, a majoritarian Islamist group, has had a particularly bloodied past, while the years the BNP was in power were marked by political violence and vendetta. Lastly, Mr. Yunus’s administration should facilitate free and fair elections at the earliest. Only an elected government with popular legitimacy can steer the country out of the troubles it is in today. The success of Bangladesh’s uprising is dependent on the will and ability of the country’s new rulers to tackle these challenges.

Reign of chaos

• Meaning: A period characterized by disorder and lack of control.
• Example: "The sudden resignation of the CEO led to a reign of chaos in the company as departments struggled to maintain order."

On edge

• Meaning: In a state of tension or anxiety.
• Example: "The citizens were on edge, fearing that the protests would turn violent."

Bring back from the brink

• Meaning: To prevent something bad from happening or getting worse.
• Example: "The emergency measures taken by the government helped bring the economy back from the brink of collapse."

Brink

• Meaning: The point at which something, typically something unwelcome, is about to happen; the verge.
• Example: "The negotiations brought the two countries to the brink of war."

Signs of reconciliation

• Meaning: Indications of restoring friendly relations after a conflict.
• Example: "The handshake between the two leaders was a sign of reconciliation after years of rivalry."

Pragmatic first step

• Meaning: A practical and realistic initial action in dealing with a problem or situation.
• Example: "Implementing a temporary solution was seen as a pragmatic first step to address the water shortage."

Infamous past

• Meaning: A history that is well known for negative reasons.
• Example: "The company had an infamous past of environmental violations, which they are now trying to rectify."

Build temporary peace

• Meaning: To create a short-term or provisional state of peace, often as a step towards a more lasting solution.
• Example: "The ceasefire was a step towards building temporary peace in the war-torn region."

Facilitate free and fair elections

• Meaning: To make it easier for elections to be conducted in a way that is open, transparent, and just.
• Example: "International observers were called in to help facilitate free and fair elections in the country."

Steer the country out of troubles

• Meaning: To guide the nation away from its current difficulties or problems.
• Example: "The new government faces the challenge of steering the country out of economic troubles."

Dependent on the will and ability

• Meaning: Reliant on someone's determination and capability to achieve something.
• Example: "The success of the project is dependent on the will and ability of the team members to work together."