Dhaka: The head of the interim government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus has threatened to resign. The move came after protests by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and a warning by the country’s Army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman. It is believed that the interim head of the government, Yunus has not been able to handle the affairs of the country properly. There has been a spike in violence, theft and anti-minority incidents, which has forced Yunus to take such a step.
Protests might return to Dhaka
Meanwhile student leaders of the country are once again rallying youths and Islamists to hold protests in Dhaka. They also plan to march to the Army cantonment, reported India Today quoting government sources.
However many also believe that the buzz surrounding Yunus’ resignation might be a ploy to launch an agitation against the Army chief, who wants elections to be held in the country. If the elections are held, Yunus’ term as the de facto head of the country/Prime Minister will come to an end.
Yunus was silent when mobs destroyed several important landmarks in the country. He did not condemn the destruction of Mujibur Rahman’s Dhanmondi 32 residence or protest when the Awami League was banned. Not only that, his silence was also questionable when minorities (read Hindus) were being attacked and their places of worship being damaged by mobs.
Yunus had taken charge of the government soon after student protests in Bangladesh led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. The protests initially began as a student-led agitation against job reservations, but later turned into a protest against the government, and forced Hasina to flee the country. She left Bangladesh on August 5,2024.
The news of Yunus having threatened to resign was confirmed by Nahid Islam, one of the leaders of last year’s agitation and Convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP). Talking to BBC Bangla, the leader of the party floated by students said that Yunus had threatened to resign as he was not able to carry on with his work amid the current political environment and protests.
Islam quoted Yunus as saying, “”I am being held hostage. I can’t work like this. Can’t all the political parties reach a common ground?”
However Nahid reportedly urged Yunus to continue to lead the government.. Yunus suggested the student leaders form another interim government as he will not be able to continue in his position.
Apart from the NCP leader, some of the Cabinet Ministers like Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam and Adviser for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Asif Mahmud, also met Yunus in a bid to convince him to continue leading the government.
BNP wants elections
Yunus’ threats to resign came a day after the BNP demanded a clear roadmap for elections. BNP leader Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain was quoted by India Today as saying, “The highest priority should be placed on announcing a clear road map for the election.”
The BNP in its first large-scale protest following the formation of the interim government demanded that its candidate be declared mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. The party also called for the resignation of 2 members of the Yunus Cabinet, seen as being close to the NCP. It also wants National Security Adviser, Khalilur Rahman out.
The BNP sees elections as an opportunity to win back power, as Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, is banned from political activities in the country. The party believes that any further delay in elections might rob it of the opportunity to form government in the country, given the presence of the NCP in the country’s electoral politics this time.
Several people in Bangladesh believe that Yunus is using the students and Islamist mobs as foot soldiers, in order to continue in power, and not hold elections. Though Yunus had said that elections will be held in June 2026, political parties in the country, including the BNP are getting desperate.
Relations between Yunus and Army chief
Meanwhile relations between Yunus and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman are also not that smooth. Zaman issued a stern warning on Wednesday that elections must be held in the country by December this year.
The Army head also called out the Yunus government for trying to make a unilateral decision on the Rakhine corridor and interfering in military matters. Yunus had earlier forwarded a proposal for a “humanitarian” corridor to Myanmar’s Rakhine State. This was described by the Army chief Zaman as a “bloody corridor”.
There is a growing feeling in Bangladesh that this corridor would impinge upon the country’s sovereignty and is being pushed by the US for its own gains. Yunus is also helping the US, in order to remain in power. However, he was forced to make a U-turn on the matter, after not finding support from the Army.
The Army chief told Dhaka Tribune, “National interest must come first in any action. Whatever is done must be guided by political consensus.”
