Will Yunus be cornered into holding elections in Bangladesh by December?

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6 days ago

As Bangladesh's interim chief Muhammad Yunus visits Japan, pressure back home is surging. The BNP demands elections by December, the army wants an early vote, and civil servants are protesting sweeping new ordinances. With unrest escalating and the political timeline unclear, is Yunus running out of room to manoeuvre? read more
Protesters block Shahbagh Square demanding the ban of the Bangladesh Awami League, the former ruling party, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 10, 2025. File Image/Reuters
The political climate in Bangladesh has reached a boiling point as calls for national elections by December this year grow louder.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the military leadership and several other political parties have all voiced urgent demands for a defined election timeline.
The mounting pressure is now squarely on interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who is currently leading the country through one of its most tumultuous political transitions in recent memory.
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The BNP, which has regained considerable influence following the removal of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League, has and hand over power to an elected government.
Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain recently reiterated the party's position following a formal meeting with Yunus, stating, 'We have called for completing the reforms quickly and holding the national election by December.'
BNP's clear demands
In addition to pushing for elections by the end of the year, the BNP has demanded a complete reconstitution of the interim cabinet. The party has raised objections to the inclusion of 'controversial advisers,' particularly Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, who are closely linked to the Students against Discrimination (SAD) movement.
Both currently hold key advisory roles in youth and sports, and information ministries, respectively. According to BNP leaders, these appointments reflect bias, given the role SAD played in ousting the previous regime and later forming the National Citizen Party (NCP), which is seen as aligned with Yunus.
The BNP has also questioned the interim government's jurisdiction over long-term national matters. Referring to sensitive projects such as the Rohingya corridor and policy decisions around the Chattogram port, the party argues that only a fully elected government should handle these issues.
'The people of Bangladesh do not believe that an interim government has the jurisdiction to make such nationally important and long-term policy decisions,' the party declared.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the BNP voiced broader concerns about democratic backsliding, warning that a 'new black shadow' was looming over Bangladesh's electoral future.
He alleged that a 'well-orchestrated conspiracy' was underway to delay the elections and deprive citizens of their constitutional rights.
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Military leadership steps in
Adding to the pressure, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman publicly stated that the elections should be held by December 2025. Stressing that it is the role of an elected government to determine the nation's future, the Army Chief called upon military personnel to remain neutral and uphold their duties with integrity.
This stance reportedly aligns with internal concerns within the armed forces. In recent days, General Zaman and the chiefs of the navy and air force held closed-door meetings with Yunus, where they reaffirmed their preference for a December election.
The military leadership also voiced apprehensions about the proposed Rohingya humanitarian corridor, stating they were not fully informed about the government's strategic direction.
Soon after, Zaman convened a high-level meeting at Dhaka Cantonment, where he discussed the military's role during the transition, reported PTI.
Observers see this as an effort to assert institutional control amid the growing uncertainty. Troops were seen patrolling streets across Dhaka, operating with enhanced authority to preserve law and order amid escalating unrest.
Yunus in Japan as political crisis brews at home
Yunus is on a four-day official trip to Japan, where he is participating in the 30th Nikkei Forum on the Future of Asia. He is also scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 30 to discuss bilateral cooperation, with seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) expected in investment, technology and energy.
His absence comes at a crucial moment. Back home, thousands of government employees and officers are protesting a controversial ordinance passed by his administration.
The Government Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 allows the Ministry of Public Administration to dismiss public servants for misconduct without following traditional procedural safeguards. This has triggered demonstrations across Bangladesh, especially at the heavily guarded Secretariat.
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Protesters have condemned the ordinance as 'repressive' and demanded its immediate withdrawal. In response, a special committee of seven senior secretaries met with Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid to present the demands.
However, no decisions have been made in Yunus's absence, reported Dhaka Tribune. Saleh, one of the senior secretaries involved, stated that the cabinet secretary is awaiting Yunus's return to make any official announcements.
Tensions within the bureaucracy have also surfaced. The sudden resignation of the Foreign Secretary, reportedly over disagreements with the interim government's stance on the Rohingya corridor, signals internal discontent over policy directions.
A fractured political landscape: Jamaat, NCP weigh in
The interim administration is facing pressure from all political fronts. The BNP delegation that met with Yunus on May 24 explicitly called for an immediate election roadmap. In parallel, Jamaat-e-Islami proposed two possible timeframes: either mid-February 2026 if reforms are expedited or immediately after Ramadan if delays occur.
Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman pointed out the need for separate roadmaps for reforms and elections.
Meanwhile, the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), composed largely of former SAD members, has suggested holding local government elections prior to national polls — a move BNP strongly opposes.
The NCP maintains that grassroots elections could bolster democratic participation, though the BNP views it as a distraction from the national agenda.
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Despite these disagreements, Yunus's office claims that all three parties — BNP, Jamaat and NCP — expressed conditional support for a peaceful and fair election under his leadership.
His press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, confirmed that Yunus assured the parties the election would be held between December 2025 and June 2026, depending on reform completion.
Cabinet affirms Yunus will stay
Following swirling rumours that Yunus was considering stepping down, his advisory council issued a statement confirming that he would remain in his role. Planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud confirmed the development after a closed-door meeting chaired by Yunus.
A formal statement from the advisory council outlined the government's three main responsibilities: completing reforms, ensuring justice, and organising elections.
The council warned against what it described as 'unreasonable demands' and 'jurisdictionally overreaching statements' that disrupt the government's functioning and mislead the public.
In a pointed remark, the statement added, 'If — under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy — the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people.'
Prior to this, Yunus had reportedly confided to NCP leaders that he was contemplating resignation, citing growing challenges and the inability of political factions to find common ground.
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However, NCP convenor Nahid Islam publicly urged Yunus to stay, stating, 'We hope everyone will cooperate with him.'
What next for Bangladesh?
The backdrop to all these developments is widespread public discontent.
From political party rallies — such as the massive demonstration organized by BNP's affiliated groups including Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal — to civil service protests, the capital city Dhaka has seen a continuous string of demonstrations.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, addressing the crowd virtually, sharply criticised Yunus's leadership and stressed the need for immediate electoral clarity.
The December 2025 deadline is emerging as a red line for Bangladesh.
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With inputs from agencies