Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the caretaker of the interim government in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. While his role was to oversee the country until elections were held, it now seems that Yunus is nurturing political ambitions and hopes to be elected to the office of Prime Minister in the next elections.
After Sheikh Hasina fled the country following a massive students’ uprising, Yunus worked closely and in tandem with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. It all looked hunky dory for the trio as they came together since a common enemy was gone.
The experts had always said that the three would stick together since they had a common enemy in Sheikh Hasina. However, this mask would wear off when Hasina is out of the picture, and the rift would set in then.
Rift widens in Bangladesh
The first signs of a rift were seen when Yunus said that he would announce the date for the elections either at the end of this year or early next year. The BNP had hoped that an election would be held as early as October this year, but that was not to be.
The BNP felt that Yunus had been trying to hold on to power for too long and that he ought to have declared the elections sooner. The BNP is of the opinion that the wave is currently in its favour, and any further delay could change that equation.
However, the differences between Yunus and the BNP came out in the open when the former announced that his administration is considering reducing the voting age from 18 to 17. The BNP was quick to comment on this and said that the Election Commission would come under huge pressure, and this is not desirable at this juncture.
The statement by the BNP’s secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, showed that his party was desperate to keep up with the fast-changing political development. It also suggested the BNP’s desire to grab power in Bangladesh.
The party vehemently protested this decision as it felt that reducing the voting age would increase the number of students and youth who would be eligible to vote.
It is a well-known fact that Yunus has the full backing of the students, and he has credited them for playing a pivotal role in the July uprising, which led to a change in regime in Bangladesh.
The BNP feels that adding more youth and students to the electoral rolls would strengthen Yunus’ position further as they will back his current administration. This would eventually thwart the political ambitions of the BNP, and the party would feel that the move was calculated by Yunus.
Yunus has so far displayed no qualities of a leader. Often referred to as a stooge and puppet, he lacks the political acumen that the other leaders do. However, despite his lack of wisdom, he hopes that when elections are held, he could contest and then win the same with the backing of the students and youth.
Trust eroding in Dhaka
The BNP is well aware that if an election is held soon, it has a chance of sweeping the polls. If an election were to be held in 2026, as suggested by Yunus, then a lot could change on the ground, and the BNP may find the battle a hard one to win.
What has led to further distrust is that the BNP believes that Yunus is backing the formation of a new political party by two leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement (ADSM) which led the protest to oust Sheikh Hasina.
The BNP leadership says that the elections are being delayed since Yunus and the ADSM want to hold on to power for as long as possible. Further, his backing of a new political party has only made the BNP more suspicious.
The BNP argues that the interim government was put in place so that the country could function until the elections are held. The interim government does not have a mandate to remain in power for too long as desired by Yunus, and hence, the delay only suggests that Yunus is nurturing political ambitions, the BNP feels.
The ADSM and Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, which was formed following the July 2024 uprising, has announced that it plans to set up a new party by next month. After this, the organisational structure would need to be set up while enrolling new members. Since this would take time, Yunus has decided not to call for an early election.
The BNP is also upset with the way in which the interim government has handled political cases. The Yunus administration was quick to withdraw all cases against him that were filed by the Sheikh Hasina government. However, cases against the BNP leaders remain, and not much has been done to withdraw them.
The party is in particularly upset that the Yunus administration has done nothing about the cases against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son, Rahman.
If the BNP wins the election, he will be heading the government in the wake of Khaleda Zia having health issues.
A great opportunity for Bharat
Even as the anti-India rhetoric in Bangladesh gets louder with each passing day, New Delhi continued to reach out to the BNP leaders, reversing its policy of non-engagement with the party.
The BNP surprising was reciprocative since it realises that it would need New Delhi’s help to deal with Yunus and the ADSM. Further, the BNP also said that, unlike in the past, it would protect Bharat’s interests and ensure that there are no anti-India activities in Bangladesh.
Yunus realises that the fight against the BNP would be tough, and hence, he holds on to power for as long as he can. Further, Yunus is set to lose his biggest support- the United States- with Donald Trump set for a January 20 inauguration. Trump has made it clear he will have none of the nonsense that is taking place in the country as of now.
All this bodes well for Bharat, and good ties with the BNP would mean breaking the backs of Yunus and advisers who promoted the anti-Bharat rhetoric.
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