Yunus, the march towards elections and the unresolved crisis in Dhaka
The main opposition party – but also the military and the international community – are urging the interim head of government to set a clear “roadmap” for elections in December. After threatening to resign, in a country in a deep crisis, Yunus will meet all political groups in what promises to be a crucial step in the post-Hasina period.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – Bangladesh's largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with other political groups, is stepping up calls for a general election by December 2025, citing a worsening law and order crisis, economic instability and growing public discontent.
The request coincides with a rare intervention by Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who urged early polls to restore stability, amid mounting international pressure for a clear electoral roadmap.
The BNP has criticised the interim government for prioritising contentious political decisions over elections.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday stressed that a “time-bound election roadmap” is the “only solution” to resolve the political deadlock, following a court ruling on Dhaka South Mayor Ishraq Hossain’s disputed swearing-in.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a BNP standing committee member, warned that the party could withdraw cooperation if the elections are delayed, signalling potential street protests.
Against this background, rival factions seeking to postpone the vote risk deepening political polarisation, further destabilising the country.
Bangladesh is facing a double challenge: a collapsing industrial sector with dwindling foreign investment and rampant crime.
Over 4,000 firearms were looted after 5 August 2024, following clashes that disrupted law enforcement.
Deployed to curb violence, the military has faced criticism despite losses in the line of duty. General Waker-Uz-Zaman reiterated the military’s temporary role, stressing that lasting solutions require an elected government.
In a speech on Wednesday, the general called for elections in December, in line with his earlier plea for elections within 18 months of the interim government taking office.
He also opposed interim decisions on strategic issues like foreign-managed infrastructure projects, insisting such policies demand political consensus and oversight by elected officials.
The interim government, led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus – Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2006 and founder of the Grameen Bank – is also facing external scrutiny.
Forty-one Australian MPs recently urged Yunus to commit to "neutral, internationally monitored elections", warning that delays risk eroding democracy.
For his part, Yunus, who threatened to resign on Thursday, is set to meet all political groups.
With Dhaka engulfed in daily protests amid a policy gridlock, analysts warn that prolonged uncertainty could exacerbate economic collapse. The BNP's mobilisation efforts and the military's reluctance to prolong its peacekeeping role underscore the urgency for a resolution.
As domestic and international pressures increase, the interim government's response to election demands will determine whether Bangladesh can navigate towards stability or plunge into deeper crisis. The coming weeks will be decisive in shaping the country's democratic path.
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19/01/2007
23/11/2006
