Three months into Muhammad Yunus’s leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government, the Nobel laureate’s administration is being met with a growing sense of disillusionment, fear, and frustration. What was supposed to be a bridge to stability after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has quickly devolved into a dangerous power struggle, leaving citizens wondering if the country has merely exchanged one authoritarian regime for another.
With constitutional principles cast aside, growing reports of forced resignations, and widespread fear of repression, Yunus’s administration is beginning to resemble a government of intimidation rather than the promised “restoration of democracy.”
Who’s Really Running Bangladesh?
The interim government that rose from student-led protests against Hasina now finds itself splintered and struggling to lead. Yunus may hold the title of chief adviser, but his power appears constrained by former student activists-turned-political operatives who, together with radical factions like Jamaat-e-Islami, exert overwhelming influence over state affairs. Even as Yunus tries to project an image of unity, the reality shows a government fractured and increasingly hostile to opposition.
“There is major confusion on who is running the government,” said Nurul Haq Nur, president of the Gono Odhikar Parishad party. Nur highlighted what many Bangladeshis see as a grim truth: “Is it Yunus, or the student coordinators who led the movement against Hasina and are now calling the shots?”
An Attack on Bangladesh’s Constitution
Bangladesh’s Constitution, which guarantees democratic rule and legal rights, has become a casualty of this interim administration. Soon after Yunus took power, the Supreme Court — a bastion of the nation’s legal integrity — was pressured to conform to the regime’s demands. Within days, Supreme Court judges who were deemed uncooperative were summarily forced to resign. “Since then, there has been no rule of law,” said a former minister who served in the Hasina government, “and mobocracy has become the order in Bangladesh.”
Despite a public mandate to preserve the nation’s democratic framework, Yunus’s government seems intent on rewriting laws, manipulating institutions, and creating a climate of fear. “After the fall of our government, the Supreme Court gave the opinion that an interim government could be formed under Yunus, but only with a commitment to uphold the Constitution,” said the former minister. “Instead, what we’re seeing is a systematic dismantling of legal safeguards.”
A Government Paralyzed by Infighting
The Yunus administration is deeply divided. Rather than focusing on addressing pressing issues such as poverty, public safety, and the upcoming election, the government has been plagued by internal conflicts. The revolutionary coalition includes members of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party known for its hardline stances, as well as young, radical student leaders who now hold sway over policy. Their agenda? A clampdown on perceived “dissenters,” with civil society voices and ordinary citizens increasingly silenced.
The factions within Yunus’s coalition have also stalled decisions critical to Bangladesh’s future, such as setting a timeline for elections and whether the Awami League should be allowed to participate. As a result, the government appears more preoccupied with consolidating power than with preparing for a democratic handover.
Fear and Intimidation Grip Bangladesh
Reports of forced resignations across the public sector are stoking fears among Bangladesh’s citizens. Judges, government employees, teachers, and even medical professionals are being pressured by the student coalition to step down. “The rule of law was better even under Pakistan’s rule,” lamented a veteran of the 1971 Liberation War, “as there was space for opposing voices.” Today’s Bangladesh feels like a police state in the making, where repression masquerades as governance.
Businesspeople and professionals alike are speaking out — cautiously. Those who hoped the Yunus administration would ease tensions and restore public trust now feel betrayed. “There is no clarity on what this interim government is up to,” said a businessman, who cited growing concern over arbitrary arrests and harassment of dissenters. “They’re wasting time on issues of no importance to ordinary citizens.”
Disillusionment and Discontent Rising
Instead of establishing security and order, the interim administration seems distracted by trivial issues. Recently, Yunus’s government was criticized for intervening in sports and trade controversies, which included debating whether the popular cricketer Shakib al Hasan should continue playing and whether Bangladesh’s prized hilsa fish should be exported to India. “While they chase after these insignificant issues, the country is falling apart,” said one Dhaka resident.
What Lies Ahead?
Yunus’s tenure has yet to offer the stability or transparency the Bangladeshi people were promised. With opposition voices silenced, an all-powerful student coalition running rampant, and citizens fearful of speaking out, Bangladesh’s path forward looks increasingly perilous. The next elections, the very essence of Bangladesh’s democratic process, remain mired in ambiguity, with no clear timeline or consensus on how they will proceed.
As Bangladesh looks to the future, Yunus’s interim government seems unwilling — or perhaps incapable — of restoring the very democratic rights it vowed to uphold. What began as a hopeful movement for reform now appears to be little more than a new form of autocracy, wrapped in the rhetoric of change but hollow at its core.
Sahadat Russell, Associate Editor, The Voice.