Pressure is mounting on Mohammad Yunus to resign amid the turmoil in Bangladesh. The army chief has threatened to hold elections by December, deepening the political crisis.
Bangladesh is facing a significant political turmoil. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government, is under increasing pressure to resign. With escalating protests and unrest throughout the nation, there are indications that Yunus is contemplating resignation.
Media reports indicate the gravity of the matter, as Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has explicitly cautioned Yunus that elections must occur in the country by December this year. He emphasized that all actions should prioritize national interest and political agreement. This firm warning from the army is perceived as an ultimatum for the Yunus administration.
Yunus accused of anti-India stance and violence
Yunus, the leader of the provisional government established following Sheikh Hasina's removal, faces allegations of participating in activities against India and not preventing violence against the Hindu minority. India has raised serious concerns over these issues. This situation has intensified just months after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
The US response and the Modi-Trump dialogue
Indeed, at the February 2025 meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump, the Bangladesh situation was a topic of discussion. Trump has dismissed any direct involvement by the US, stating that the issue is a priority for India. 'Our deep state has no role in this,' he remarked. Following Trump's decision to allow India to handle the matter, the condition of the Yunus administration in Bangladesh appears to have worsened over the past three months.
Where did the news of Yunus's resignation begin?
During a media interview, Nid Islam, the leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), stated that talks about Yunus's resignation began on the morning of May 22. Islam mentioned that Yunus believed he couldn't operate effectively without political agreement given the present situation. The NCP chief clearly expressed that if Yunus is unable to handle the duties, it would be pointless for him to remain in the position.
The military has been instrumental in the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh. It was reportedly involved in the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina administration. Presently, the same military is conveying a firm warning to the Yunus government that they cannot act without restraint and must prioritize the national interest.
Sheikh Hasina's departure and sourness in India-Bangladesh
In August 2024, student protests and violent demonstrations in Bangladesh compelled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. Over 600 individuals lost their lives in these events. Subsequently, Hasina sought asylum in India, leading to the establishment of an interim government headed by Yunus. Since that time, the relationship between India and Bangladesh has continued to deteriorate.