"Not Dilli, Not Pindi, Bangladesh First": BNP's Regional Policy Stance
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Bangladesh's political tension rises as the BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, opposes Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' foreign policy focus. BNP demands elections by December, criticising Yunus for lacking a mandate and prioritising foreign ties over national interests
Bangladesh's political landscape is heating up as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) pushes back against Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's focus on foreign policy. The BNP, led by Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, is emphasising the need for elections and reforms, questioning Yunus's mandate to make long-term foreign policy decisions.
BNP's Foreign Policy Stance
Tarique Rahman outlined his party's vision, prioritising Bangladesh's interests above all else. He has made it clear that Bangladesh will not seek closer ties with Rawalpindi or Delhi but put Bangladesh first. "Not Dilli, Not Pindi, Bangladesh before everything," he declared at a massive rally in the Nayapaltan area of Dhaka, urging supporters to repeat the slogan.
This stance diverges from Yunus's approach, which seems to favour stronger ties with Pakistan at the expense of relations with India.
The ties between India and Bangladesh were not at its best when BNP was in power, but Yunus, who came in only with a limited mandate, has indicated he wants to make decisions on foreign policy matters that have a long term impact.
Yunus also wants to allow a Rohingya corridor and take decisions like handing over the Chattogram Port to foreign firms. Tarique Rahman reminded Yunus and the interim government that if it wants to decide on Bangladesh's future, long term policy, it must quit and fight elections.
Criticism of Yunus's Tenure
The BNP has accused Yunus of overstepping his bounds, making decisions without a political mandate. Rahman emphasised that an interim government's primary assets are neutrality and credibility, which should not be compromised.
'For any interim government, neutrality and credibility are its greatest assets. These must not be squandered. Nothing should be done that erodes public trust or alienates citizens. We urge the interim administration not to view democracy loving citizens or political parties as adversaries. If anyone currently in power wishes to remain in governance, they must resign and seek a mandate through the people's vote,' Tarique Rahman told supporters at the massive rally in Dhaka highlighting how the interim government has been making excuses to extend its term.
Call for Elections
Critics of Muhammad Yunus have accused him of wanting to stay in power without facing elections. Yunus has only given a vague timeline of December to June when asked about elections.
The BNP is demanding elections by December, criticising Yunus's vague timeline. "Ten months into its tenure, the interim administration has still not announced an election date. The people of Bangladesh deserve better. We seek a nation free from authoritarianism, led by a government elected through a fair vote, and accountable to its citizens," Tarique Rahman urged.
Democratic Integrity
Rahman also highlighted the importance of democratic integrity, referencing North Korea's constitution. "I often make a point that bears repeating: reforming individual mindsets is far more important than reforming texts or institutions on paper. After all, the constitution of North Korea proclaims the country to be the 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea.' The words may be there, but it is adherence, not articulation, that defines democratic integrity."
BNP's Position in the Forthcoming Elections
The BNP remains a major player in Bangladesh politics, particularly after the ban on the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League. With critics accusing Yunus of wanting to stay in power without facing elections, the BNP is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the forthcoming elections.
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Both have not gone down well with pressure groups and political parties. And then there are other factors behind Yunus' growing unpopularity among the people. There were two news items concerning the Yunus administration in the first week of June – new currency notes with graffiti and slogan of the July revolution, and symbols of Bangladesh's temples, monasteries, and historic buildings printed on them, replacing the old ones with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's face, and the announcement of the date for the next national election. Muhammad Yunus may have successfully removed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's image from Bangladesh's new currency notes, but the head of the interim government is fighting for his own relevance. From liberals to radicals to political parties, Yunus is fast becoming increasingly unpopular in Bangladesh. No to Mujib, yes to temples For Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, general secretary of the Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, the Yunus administration's continuous attempts to undermine Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's place in history has alienated a large section of Bangladesh's population. And not just the Awami League ecosystem. Talking to ThePrint over phone, Nikhil said there might be discontent among some people about the Awami League government under Sheikh Hasina that fell on 5 August 2024. 'But wiping out Sheikh Mujib's face from currency notes after allowing a mob to pull down his official residence, Dhanmondi 32, on February 5 this year has angered a large section of Bangladesh's population'. According to Nikhil, Sheikh Mujib stands as the epitome of liberal values that helped sever ties with West Pakistan in 1971 and turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh. 'Sheikh Mujib was not only the leader of Awami League. 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Bangladeshi political journalist Sahidul Hasan Khokon told ThePrint that such attacks on Hindu lives, properties, and temples are still being carried out. 'The local media has been forced to not report such incidents so that global attention is not drawn towards the persecution of minorities in the country'. Temples are an eyesore to Islamic fundamentalists, Khokon said, adding that images of temples in new currency notes have made Yunus suddenly unpopular among radicals who have been firmly behind him so far. Also read: Bangladesh Army Chief wants elections. Muhammad Yunus wants to get rid of him Delayed polls or no polls? On 6 June, in a televised address to the nation, Muhammad Yunus announced that the national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. 'Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap in due course,' he said. 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A rumor gets circulated and public opinion is shaped against a person almost instantly and the attack begins. While there have been instances of people being killed on the suspicion of theft or dacoity, there have been lynchings for political differences as well. After the fall of the Hasina government there has been a sharp decline in the law-and-order situation in the country and no effective steps have been taken to curb these,' the report said. Unchecked rise of Islamists Khokon said at least 346 militants including the spiritual leader of Al-Qaeda-inspired terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, Jashimuddin Rahmani, have been released since August last year. 'The average Bangladeshi practices moderate Islam. The Yunus administration looks the other way as radicals get emboldened by the day. Previously outlawed terrorist outfits like Hizbut Taharir have gained new lease of life and publicly campaigned for Caliphate,' he said. And it is not just Hindus who have been at the receiving end of Islamist ire. Even Sufi Muslims have said there are increasing attacks on their places of worship. 'About a hundred of our shrines (mazars) and centres have been attacked in the past six months,' Anisur Rahman Jafri, secretary general of the Sufism Universal Foundation, told the BBC. Also read: An open letter to Prof Muhammad Yunus Where are the jobs? Youth unemployment in Bangladesh will continue to remain high, more than double the national unemployment rate, with university graduates being the hardest hit, The Daily Star reported on 29 May, quoting a World Employment and Social Outlook report released by the International Labour Organization. The International Labour Organization identified geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions as key factors weakening Bangladesh's economic outlook, leading to slower job growth. The Daily Star report said Bangladesh's unemployment rate rose to 4.63 per cent in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024–25, as a growing number of job seekers failed to secure employment, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, published recently. 'With rising unemployment, worsening law and order situation, and radicals running the streets, how exactly do you expect Yunus to remain popular,' Khokon said. Deep Halder is an author and a contributing editor at ThePrint. He tweets @deepscribble. Views are personal. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
