​Reign of chaos: on Bangladesh’s inner tensions

Tensions between Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, and the military are no longer a secret. On Monday, an army spokesperson publicly voiced opposition to the government’s proposal to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s conflict-torn Rakhine State, home to the persecuted Rohingya. The government’s plan is to supply medicines and other aid, but the military believes it would pose significant security challenges. Last week, Bangladesh army chief, Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, expressed concerns about several of the government’s initiatives, including the so-called humanitarian corridor, the potential foreign management of Chattogram Port, and the introduction of Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite Internet service. He also urged the government to hold early elections for “a stable, elected government” that is capable of making decisions related to national security. Amid the growing rift, speculation swirled in Dhaka last week that Mr. Yunus might step down. Later, a Cabinet member said that Mr. Yunus “is staying with us”, but the Army’s subsequent press conference suggests that the cold war is far from over.

When Mr. Yunus, backed by student groups, took over as the ‘Chief Adviser’ of the interim government on August 8, 2024, three days after the fall of the Hasina administration, he promised to lead Bangladesh into a new dawn of democracy from the semi-authoritarian years of the Awami League. But nine months on, he is still struggling to stabilise the country and rein in the mobs. The government’s crackdown on the Awami League, one of Bangladesh’s largest political parties, has further eroded hopes for inclusive elections. Most of the party’s senior leaders are either in exile or in hiding, while hundreds of party workers have been killed. Earlier this month, the interim government officially banned the Awami League, yielding to pressure from the student leaders and Islamist factions. Mr. Yunus and his allies, including the National Citizen Party, established by student leaders after Ms. Hasina’s fall, claim that elections can be held only by mid-next year, citing the need for electoral and political reforms. But the continued delay has sparked protests by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and drawn public criticism from the military. By postponing the elections, suppressing the Awami League, using both state and non-state tools, and failing to restrain the mobs, Mr. Yunus, an unelected leader, is steering Bangladesh into deepening chaos and uncertainty. What Bangladesh urgently needs is a stable, legitimate government with a clear popular mandate. The interim government and all relevant stakeholders must prioritise holding inclusive, free and fair elections, at the earliest possible opportunity, ensuring the participation of all political factions.