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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Bangladesh's interim leader Md Yunus mulls resignation: What we know so far
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government and Nobel laureate, is reportedly considering resigning from his post, citing mounting political unrest and the failure of parties to forge a consensus. According to BBC Bangla and local media reports Yunus voiced his intention during closed-door discussions with his advisory council and political allies. Here is what is known so far. Who is Muhammad Yunus? Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, rose to international fame for pioneering microcredit through the Grameen Bank he founded. However, his recent role as Chief Adviser (effectively the head of the interim government) in Bangladesh is less about finance and more about navigating the country through one of its most volatile political transitions. He assumed office following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 's Awami League regime in August 2024, a move that came after massive student-led protests. The military, despite being deployed during the unrest, were not able to crack down on protestors. Instead, they facilitated Hasina's safe exit. Why was Yunus chosen to lead Bangladesh? Muhammad Yunus has been serving as interim leader since August 2024. The unrest, led by groups like Students Against Discrimination (SAD), now central to the National Citizen Party (NCP), called for a neutral figure to clean up corruption and fix the electoral system. Yunus, globally respected and considered politically independent, was backed by the military and civil society as a consensus choice to lead a transitional government until a proper election could take place. Why is Yunus considering resignation now? Reports from BBC Bangla, AFP, and The Daily Star suggest Yunus is deeply frustrated by the increasing polarisation, lack of consensus among political parties, and growing protests against his advisory council. He expressed these concerns during a late-night meeting at the state guest house Jamuna, attended by key figures from the NCP including Nahid Islam, Mahfuj Alam, and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain. 'I won't be able to work unless the political parties can reach a common ground,' Yunus reportedly told NCP leader. According to Nahid Islam, Yunus feels 'held hostage' by relentless protests and factional demands, and is disheartened by aspersions cast on his government's neutrality and performance. Multiple political parties are now demanding the dismissal of some of his advisers, alleging they are aligned with specific groups such as the NCP, raising questions about the impartiality of his administration. ALSO READ | What are Bangladeshi political parties demanding? Tensions have surged in recent weeks. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is demanding: Elections to be held by December 2025, not 2026 as proposed. A downsized advisory council with the removal of advisers like Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib. Removal of National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman. A complete reconstitution of the Election Commission, which it accuses of bias. At the same time, the NCP, once a strong supporter of Yunus, also protested against the current EC and demanded the resignation of key advisers like Salehuddin Ahmed (Finance), Asif Nazrul (Law), and Wahiduddin Mahmud (Planning). Jamaat-e-Islami and others have backed calls for institutional reforms and trial of former Awami League leaders. Military pressure mounts on Yunus Another significant development is the apparent shift in military support. On Wednesday, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman reportedly said that elections must be held by December 2025 to restore civilian governance. 'This is only possible through an elected government, not by unelected decision-makers,' he said, according to military sources cited by The Daily Star. NCP leaders, advisers urge Yunus to remain in power At a Thursday morning advisory council meeting, Yunus reportedly voiced his desire to step down and address the nation. Advisers urged him to take a few days to reflect before making a final decision. Later that evening, he repeated his concerns during a meeting with NCP leaders. Despite attempts to reassure him, he returned to Jamuna unconvinced, with speculation intensifying on social media. Nahid Islam, in his BBC Bangla interview, indicated that Yunus feels powerless amid political infighting and no longer confident in his ability to lead reforms. However, NCP leaders continue to urge him to stay on, citing the importance of unity and national stability.
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First Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Why is Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus threatening to resign? Will it cause further turmoil for the country?
Claiming he can't function properly, Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, has threatened to resign. This move resulted in a flurry of activity on Thursday evening, with many of his advisers persuading him to stay on. But what's the reason for the Nobel laureate to quit? Is his fractured relationship with the army chief to blame? read more Chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus is considering stepping down, expressing anger and disappointment over the current situation in the country. File image/AFP Is Dr Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of the interim government in Bangladesh, on the verge of resigning? That's the question everyone is asking as speculation grows that the Nobel laureate is finding it increasingly difficult to work because political parties are unable to reach a common ground. In fact, news reports state that on Thursday evening, National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, advisers Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, all rushed to Jamuna, Yunus' official residence to meet with him and placate him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what's the reason for Yunus' reported frustration? Will he quit? What does it mean for Bangladesh's future? We take a deep dive and get you all the answers you are looking for. Yunus threatens to resign On Thursday (May 22), Professor Yunus reportedly had enough and announced in the most dramatic fashion that he would be resigning as chief advisor to the interim government. It's important to note here that Yunus was appointer as the de-facto head of Bangladesh last August following the massive student protests that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The 84-year-old Nobel laureate reportedly told his Cabinet on Thursday that he wanted to quit if political parties did not give him their full support, a source inside his office told AFP. 'He wanted to tender his resignation, but his Cabinet members persuaded him not to,' said the source to the news agency. Bangladeshi newspaper _Prothom Al_o reported that Yunus said in the meeting with his advisers that 'what is the point of being the chief advisor if he cannot function properly?' Following this, National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam , who until recently was a part of Yunus' Cabinet, met with him at his official residence in the evening. 'We have been hearing news of Sir's (Yunus) resignation since this morning. So I went to meet Sir to discuss that issue . . . He said he is thinking about it. He feels that the situation is such that he cannot work,' Islam told the BBC Bangla after the meeting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nahid reportedly urged Yunus not to take any decision in haste. 'He should remain strong. He should ensure unity among all parties. I hope everyone will cooperate with him,' Nahid told BBC Bangla. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam and Adviser for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Asif Mahmud also met with the chief adviser during which they tried to convince Yunus to stay on in his position. A source told Dhaka Tribune: 'The chief adviser feels somewhat embarrassed due to the continuous agitation on various issues recently. He does not want to remain in office if he cannot work independently. This situation was discussed during the meeting.' Reasons behind Yunus' resignation threat Yunus' reported threat to stand down comes amid the political turmoil in the South Asian nation of some 170 million people. In the past week, the interim leader of Bangladesh has been facing a crisis with rival parties stepping up their opposition to Yunus and his running of the country. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters gather near the chief adviser's residence in Dhaka, demanding BNP's Ishraque Hossain as the capital's mayor. Bangladesh's key political party are holding large-scale protests against the interim government, as the political rows spill onto the streets including demands for an election date. AFP One of the biggest criticisms levelled against Yunus is the declaration of elections in the country. Yunus has promised polls will be held by June 2026 at the latest, but supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party demand that he fix a date. 'If the government fails to meet public expectations, it will be difficult for the BNP to continue extending its support,' senior BNP leader Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain told reporters Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The highest priority should be placed on announcing a clear roadmap for the election.' In fact, the BNP has been carrying out massive protests in Dhaka, demanding the swearing-in of their party's candidate as mayor. The BNP alleges that the interim government has blocked an Election Commission ruling declaring its candidate Ishraque Hossain as the rightful winner of the disputed 2020 mayoral polls. The polls, it was alleged at the time, were rigged by the now-banned Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League. Chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus (R) sits along with Bangladesh's army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman. The two have not be able to see eye to eye on many issues, including holding elections in the country. File image/AFP But that's not all. Yunus' working relationship with the country's military is also deteriorating. The chief advisor and Bangladesh army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman are squabbling over the upcoming elections. General Zaman has demanded the Yunus government hold elections by the end of December — the general fears that Yunus is trying to orchestrate his ouster. There's also the issue of the 'humanitarian corridor' for the passage of logistics and supply of provisions to the Rakhine State in Myanmar. While the Yunus-led government is supportive of this plan, the army chief is opposed to it, causing a showdown between the two. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Another sticking point between Yunus and General Zaman is the appointment of former diplomat Khalilur Rahman, as Bangladesh's National Security Adviser, a position created by Yunus to, perhaps, offset the military's control of security matters. Moreover, it seems that Yunus is losing a grip over his civil administration. On Thursday (May 23), reports emerged that he had fired his foreign secretary , Md Jashim Uddin for not being 'in sync" with Yunus. Tensed future for Bangladesh Many Bangladeshi watchers fear that Yunus' threat to resign is actually a ploy to launch a full-blown agitation against the army chief. In fact, social media posts show some activists preparing and planning massive agitations. This doesn't bode well for the South Asian nation, which has already been plunged into turmoil since last August. The country's economy is in doldrums with the World Bank downgrading its economic growth forecast, warning that the country could see its slowest growth in 36 years. The crisis has been exacerbated by Bangladesh's estrangement from India, resulting in the loss of several advantages, from bilateral trade opportunities to economic support during times of crisis. As of now, it's a waiting game to see if Yunus does go forward with his threat or will he, in fact, quit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh's interim govt chief Muhammad Yunus threatens to resign amid turmoil: Report
Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief of Bangladesh's interim government, is contemplating resignation due to the failure of political parties to find common ground. Nhid Islam, the CP party chief, conveyed Yunus's concerns after meeting with him, stating that Yunus feels unable to effectively govern in the current polarized environment. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bangladesh's interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, is mulling resignation as he finds it difficult to work because political parties failed to reach a common ground, BBC Bangla service reported at midnight on Thursday quoting student-led National Citizen Party CP party chief Nhid Yunus has also informed his cabinet that he wanted to quit if political parties did not give him their full support, reported AFP quoting a source inside his office. Yunus's reported threat to stand down comes a day after thousands of supporters of the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rallied in Dhaka, holding large-scale protests against the interim government for the first time."We have been hearing news of sir's (Yunus) resignation since this morning. So I went to meet sir to discuss that issue . . . He said he is thinking about it. He feels that the situation is such that he cannot work," Islam told the BBC South Asian nation of some 170 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee in August 2024. But this week has seen an escalation in political crisis with rival parties protesting on the streets of the capital Dhaka with a string of competing NCP leader, however, said there was no point in Yunus staying if he could not do his work adding, "If the political party wants him to resign now . . . why he will stay if he does not get that place of trust, that place of assurance?".Yunus's government in the past two days was exposed to several challenges with a major one involving Bangladesh's presumably consolidated military forces, which played a crucial role during the last year's student-led has promised polls will be held by June 2026 at the latest, but supporters of the BNP -- seen as the frontrunners in highly anticipated elections that will be the first since Hasina was overthrown -- demanded he fix a relationship with the military has also reportedly deteriorated. On Wednesday, it was reported that powerful army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said elections should be held by December. "Bangladesh is passing through a chaotic phase," Waker-Uz-Zaman was quoted by newspapers as saying."The situation is worsening by the day. The structure of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies has collapsed and failed to reconstitute."The movement toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League regime and installed Yunus to power and during the protest the army preferred not to launch a crackdown on protestors despite being called out to tame the military, however, extended its hand for Hasina's safe exit to India using an air force plane and installation of Yunus as the chief adviser, effectively the prime minister, in line with the demand of Students against Discrimination (SAD), a large part of which now emerged as NCP.
Russia Today
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
India slams neighbor over communal violence remarks
India has accused neighboring Bangladesh of making 'disingenuous' comments on recent communal violence in the Indian state of West Bengal. The remarks were an attempt by Dhaka to shift focus away from the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, New Delhi claimed. On Thursday, the press secretary of Bangladesh's chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, urged Indian authorities to safeguard minority Muslim communities affected by the violence that erupted in West Bengal last week over a law involving Muslim land management reform. The ensuing unrest resulted in three deaths and hundreds injured, according to reports. Yunus' press secretary stated on Facebook that attempts to connect Bangladesh to the communal violence in the Murshidabad district are strongly rejected. BBC Bangla reported on Thursday that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had accused 'Bangladeshi miscreants' of being involved in the violence. She also blamed India's Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the unrest. Responding on Friday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told Dhaka to focus on protecting the 'rights of its own minorities' instead of making 'unwarranted' comments. 'We reject the remarks made by the Bangladeshi side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India's concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free,' Jaiswal said. Tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka have been high since the August 2024 resignation of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took refuge in India. Yunus, a vocal critic of Hasina, was appointed as the chief adviser to the caretaker government. At a recent meeting in Bangkok with Yunus, Indian Prime Minister Modi expressed his desire to improve relations with Bangladesh, but also emphasized the need to avoid harmful rhetoric. He discussed concerns such as border crossings and minority rights, specifically highlighting the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. During her recent visit to New Delhi, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told television channel NDTV that the 'longtime unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities' in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others, is 'a major area of concern' for the administration of US President Donald Trump. Yunus' office claimed that Gabbard's remarks were 'not based on any evidence or specific allegations' and 'paint an entire nation with a broad and unjustified brush.'
Russia Today
24-03-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
India speaks out on regime change in Bangladesh
The Indian government had prior knowledge of growing opposition to Sheikh Hasina's leadership in Bangladesh but was not in a position to 'interfere,' External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, according to a report by The Hindu. He briefed members of a Foreign Ministry parliamentary panel behind closed doors and reportedly said that India was not in a position to do much as it lacked the 'necessary leverage' over the ousted Bangladeshi prime minister, who could only be 'advised.' This statement was in reference to the violent removal in August 2024 of Hasina, who took refuge in India. Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have become strained since the collapse of Hasina's government and since Muhammad Yunus, her vocal critic, was appointed as the chief adviser to the caretaker government. Bangladesh, however, has recently reached out to India for a rapprochement. Yunus recently told the news outlet BBC Bangla that his country had no choice but to maintain good relations with India. He acknowledged that the two countries are 'historically, politically and economically' inseparable. 'There is no alternative to maintain good relations between the two countries,' he said, adding that 'we cannot deviate from this.' READ MORE: USAID vs. India: How Trump's crackdown alters Washington-Delhi dynamics Ties between India and Bangladesh were further strained in February when the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) released a list of programs being cut as part of a cost-cutting initiative, thereby exacerbating the already tense relationship, as reported by the newspaper Indian Express. The list consisted of funding allocated to the US-based Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening and included a $29 million program designed to enhance the political environment in Bangladesh, among others. However, the names of the recipients and the total expenditure on these initiatives were not made public. According to The Hindu report, Jaishankar highlighted the role of 'external actors' in Bangladesh while speaking to MPs. The development comes ahead of summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) in Thailand next month, where Yunus is reportedly likely to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, in the briefing with members of parliament, Jaishankar remained non-committal about the meeting. Bimstec is a summit that brings together seven South and Southeast Asian countries. During Saturday's discussion, Jaishankar was questioned about the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, where armed ethnic organizations have intensified their fight against the military junta since the February 2021 coup. Members of parliament also raised concerns about the conflict's spillover effects on India's northeastern states, according to media reports. 'A useful discussion on India's relationship with Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka,' Jaishankar posted on his X handle following the meeting with lawmakers. READ MORE: Bangladesh rejects Tulsi Gabbard's criticism over alleged abuse of minorities
