DHAKA, Bangladesh — One year after a student-led uprising ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is facing deepening political instability, religious polarization, and unrest. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, is struggling to fulfill promises of reform, peace, and a return to democracy.
A Tumultuous Transition
Hasina, who ruled for 15 years, fled to India in July 2024 after weeks of deadly protests over government job allocations. Her departure raised hopes for democratic renewal. Yunus, appointed interim leader, pledged electoral and constitutional reforms. However, one year later, Bangladesh remains in political limbo.
Fragmented Politics
A student-led political party emerged, aiming to end the dominance of the two traditional parties—Hasina’s Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Yet critics accuse this new party of cozying up to Yunus’s government and manipulating institutions.
Adding to the chaos, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party returned to politics after over a decade of suppression under Hasina. Now aligned with the student party, Jamaat is clashing with BNP over political dominance and the timing of elections. Yunus wants elections in April 2026, but the military prefers December 2025—widening rifts.
Push for Reforms, Delayed Elections
Yunus insists on reforms before holding elections, including limiting prime ministerial terms, creating a two-tier parliament, and reforming the judiciary and police. While BNP and Jamaat have conditionally agreed to some changes, disagreements remain. BNP wants swift elections, while Jamaat backs more time for reforms.
“Post-revolution honeymoons don’t last long,” said analyst Michael Kugelman. “The unelected interim government is under intense pressure without a clear mandate.”
Human Rights Concerns Rise
Minority communities, particularly Hindus, have accused the government of failing to protect them amid a surge in attacks. Meanwhile, the Awami League alleges mass arrests of its supporters.
Though enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have reportedly stopped under Yunus, rights groups say little progress has been made toward meaningful institutional reform. Islamist factions are also gaining ground, pushing for Sharia law and stricter gender norms—raising fears of further political and social fragmentation.
Foreign Relations in Flux
Hasina maintained close ties with India, but Yunus has pivoted towards China. India, upset over Hasina’s ousting, has denied extradition requests and stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis.
Yunus enjoys support from the UN and Western nations, but relations with the U.S. have soured. The Trump administration suspended USAID funding in January, complicating Bangladesh’s efforts to rebuild.
“Bangladesh now faces the challenge of dealing with a U.S. government focused mainly on commercial interests,” Kugelman noted.
