Yunus called Sheikh Hasina 'autocratic', now Bangladesh is calling him that

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27-05-2025

Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who branded Sheikh Hasina's government as the 'world's worst autocratic,' is now facing similar accusations himself, amid growing concern over his combative and unilateral style of rule read more
Bangladesh's former PM Sheikh Hasina has mounted a fresh attack on Muhammad Yunus and termed him a 'militant leader'. File image/AFP
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who last year used his Victory Day speech to target ousted Sheikh Hasina and labelled her administration as the 'world's worst autocratic government', now finds himself facing similar accusations from across the country, with growing concerns over his increasingly combative and unilateral style of governance.
'Because of our faults we could not give completeness to our achievements and of late a monstrous autocratic government had grabbed the country which virtually promised that it will not allow anything to remain which could benefit the country,' said Yunus referring to ousted Sheikh Hasina-led government what he described as the the 'world's worst autocratic government' in the Victory Day speech.
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Once seen as a champion of democratic ideals, Yunus is now being viewed by many as replicating the same authoritarian tactics he once condemned, marked by a series of unpopular decisions and confrontational policies.
His administration's crackdown on government employees, open defiance of court orders, hardline approach towards the business community, and growing tensions with the military over election delays have drawn sharp criticism.
Yunus going after govt employees
Protests have erupted nationwide over a controversial new public service law championed by Yunus's administration. The legislation, which allows for the swift dismissal of government employees for misconduct, has drawn sharp criticism from civil service unions.
They have labelled the ordinance as 'repressive' and a 'black law', and argue that the new provisions infringe upon their constitutional rights. The protesting employees have vowed to continue their protests until the ordinance is repealed.
On Tuesday, the fourth straight day of the protest, government employees crippled administrative functions at the heart of Dhaka, demanding the repeal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.
In response to mounting protests, the government began talks with protesting employees. On May 27, 2025, officials met with leaders of various staff associations at the Secretariat to discuss their demands and seek a resolution.
The protest was called off at the secretariat earlier today after the government assured them it would review the contentious law, reported Daily Sun.
As elite SWAT units and Border Guards maintain a heavy presence outside the Secretariat, growing protests are now seen as more than just resistance to a controversial civil service law— they signal a deepening rebellion against the authority of Muhammad Yunus's interim government.
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What initially appeared to be a bureaucratic dispute is rapidly evolving into a broader flashpoint, adding fuel to a national crisis marked by political instability, widespread public discontent, and mounting questions over the legitimacy of an unelected regime.
The Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 amends the Public Service Act of 2018, introducing provisions that classify four types of conduct by government employees as misconduct, allowing for their dismissal without formal departmental proceedings. The government has stated that these amendments aim to streamline disciplinary actions and reduce bureaucratic delays.
Meanwhile, thousands of teachers in government primary schools have also begun an indefinite leave from work, demanding a wage hike.
Yunus defying court orders
In a parallel crisis, the Dhaka South City Corporation remains paralysed due to a standoff involving the mayoral seat.
Civil servants have gone on strike, demanding that BNP leader Ishraque Hossain be installed as mayor following a court order.
Although the Election Commission did not challenge the decision, Yunus's interim government has defied the ruling and appealed to the High Court, seeking to block Hossain's swearing-in and preserve the role for its own appointed administrator.
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On May 22, the Bangladesh High Court summarily rejected a writ petition seeking a stay on the Election Commission's (EC) decision to declare Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The dispute stems from a March 27 ruling by Dhaka's First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge Md Nurul Islam, who overturned the 2020 DSCC election results, declared Ishraque the rightful winner, and directed the EC to issue a gazette within ten days. The EC complied on April 27.
On May 14, DSCC resident Mamunur Rashid submitted the writ petition to the HC challenging the legality of the tribunal's verdict and EC's gazette notification. He argued that the ruling was rushed and did not follow due legal process.
In the petition, Rashid said the EC did not wait for the law ministry's opinion before issuing the gazette notification declaring Ishraque as DSCC's mayor, adding that since the mayoral term had already expired and the position was vacated through an ordinance, the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to declare Ishraque elected as DSCC mayor.
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Business community up in arms
Yunus has also come under fire from Bangladesh's business community.
In an extraordinary press conference held on Sunday, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), along with other industry groups, condemned what they described as a deteriorating business climate.
Prominent business leader Showkat Aziz Russell likened the targeting of entrepreneurs to the killings of intellectuals during the 1971 Liberation War, warning that economic instability could spark a famine-like crisis as layoffs rise and consumer confidence plummets.
'We don't know how we will pay bonuses and salaries to workers ahead of Eid-ul-Adha,' The Telegraph quoted Russell, president of the Bangladesh Textiles Mills Association, as saying
'You are inviting foreigners to invest in the country… (but) foreigners know that investment in Bangladesh is not viable. They know Vietnam is more profitable than Bangladesh,' he added.
Growing discord between Yunus and military leadership
Tensions between Bangladesh's interim government and the military leadership have spilled into the open, with growing concerns over delayed elections and controversial security-related policy decisions, particularly a proposed humanitarian corridor into Myanmar's conflict-ridden Rakhine state.
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Reports suggest mounting discord as the armed forces question both the timeline for restoring democratic rule and the implications of certain foreign policy moves.
In a significant development, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, along with the Navy and Air Force chiefs, met Yunus last week to press for elections by December. Their message was clear: the military wants a swift return to elected government and has expressed reservations about the proposed Myanmar corridor initiative.
Meanwhile, the following day, General Zaman convened a meeting with senior officers at Dhaka Cantonment, where he reportedly said that he was unaware of several strategic decisions taken by the government, despite the military's key role in national affairs.
According to The Daily Star, during a 30-minute address and a subsequent hour-long Q&A, the army chief said, 'Bangladesh needs political stability. This is only possible through an elected government, not by unelected decision-makers.'
The military has also decided to crack down on increasing incidents of mob justice, reflecting a broader concern over law and order during the interim regime's tenure.
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As speculation over a civil-military rift grew, the Bangladesh Army issued a clarification on Monday. Brigadier General M Nazim-ud-Daula, the Army's operations director, said the military was not in conflict with the interim administration but remained resolute in its constitutional role. 'We (the government and army) are working to help each other. There is no scope to misinterpret it," he told reporters.
However, Daula made it clear that the military would remain firm on matters of national interest. 'There would be no compromise when it comes to the country's independence, security and sovereignty," he said, adding, 'The issue involving the corridor is highly sensitive. For the army, national interest comes first.'
The military leadership has also reportedly raised concerns about key decisions made without electoral legitimacy, including the potential foreign management of the Chattogram Port and the approval of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service — moves they fear could compromise national security.
These developments come amid rising discontent across various sectors, including the civil service and business community, over the Yunus-led interim government's policies.
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Yunus now faces growing criticism for what many see as an increasingly unilateral and authoritarian approach, fueling political uncertainty and deepening national unease.
With inputs from agencies