Can Prof Yunus abandon a ship when the sea is turbulent?
The Army Chief (COAS) General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the election should take place by December. “Bangladesh needs political stability. This is only possible through an elected government, not by unelected decision-makers,” he said, according to a source present at the Officers’ address.
By Saleem Samad
The “Godi media” in India have said there was a power struggle after a faceoff with the COAS of Bangladesh Army over holding a general election by the end of this year.
Social media was abuzz with speculation that Prof Muhammad Yunus had hinted at resigning when political parties negated the reforms initiated by his government. His desire to resign was made public after a popular BBC Bangla news portal quoted Nahid Islam, Convener of the fiery student-led National Citizens Party (NCP), as saying that the frontline student leaders were able to convince Prof Yunus not to step down when the nation was in transition to democracy.
The current situation started to develop as political tensions have been escalating, driven by protests, harsh rhetoric at rallies, and social media exchanges.
A highly placed source said Prof Yunus remains firm on his position that he should step down if the current political tension does not ease. The chief adviser insists on having full authority to make decisions — authority he says was assured when he took charge, according to a highly placed source. He has also questioned the emergence of obstacles, pointing out that his government had initially received a clear mandate to pursue reforms, try Awami League leaders, and hold the general election. He discussed matters related to frequent road blockades over myriad demands, reforms, and other issues.
Meanwhile, the Army Chief (COAS) General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the election should take place by December. “Bangladesh needs political stability. This is only possible through an elected government, not by unelected decision-makers,” he said, according to a source present at the Officers’ address.
COAS wants his 27,000 troops deployed in 57 districts to return to the barracks. The troops were visible in cities and towns to quell public lawlessness since Yunus has been made Chief Adviser.
The Interim Government of Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus took the reign of the country of 172 million after the Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government collapsed after bloody street protests during July-August last year. She fled to Delhi and since living in exile in India.
Hasina, an iron lady, ruled the country for 15 years under draconian laws. She kept the opposition in prisons for months and years accusing them of terrorism.
Yunus’s resignation will plunge the nation into a political abyss and in the turmoil it will be difficult to bring the country back on the track. There is no alternative to Prof Yunus who is a democrat, moderate, liberal and secular, said Dr Rakib Al Hasan, head of think-tank.
What is next for Yunus? Not to speak of opposition, critics, and dissidents, even the journalists and independent media were not spared. They were punished, harassed, intimidated, and imprisoned with repressive cyber security laws.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been demanding of the Interim Government to announce an election road map. The party made lots of noise in street rallies that election should be held by December this year.
Meanwhile, Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the present government is firm on carrying out three responsibilities. The election is only one agenda. She reiterated her government’s desire that the next general election will be held between this December and next June in 2026.
Second is, reforms of judiciary, election commission, civil administration, police, education, women’s equity and anti-corruption.
The third was the trial of those Awami League leaders (including former ministers, members of parliament and senior politicians for crimes against humanity and corruption), police and bureaucrats who had been accomplices to the autocratic regime.
When journalists asked Rizwana, whether they were under any pressure, she said, “For us, the only pressure is whether we can perform [these duties].
Political observers say that the gap between Yunus and the mainstream political parties on agreement of the reforms has widened. The divide is growing among the regime and the BNP, Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and also student led NCP.
However, the parties seem cautious in making official statements from political parties. Although individual politicians have made various statements, the parties have not yet made any statement officially.
Political analysts believe that Professor Yunus has two openings. He can either quit or decide to hold elections that would win the confidence of the parties and stakeholders.
There are also various kinds of discussions with different parties including Jamaat and NCP. Jamaat’s Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on social media suggested calling an all-party meeting to resolve the crisis.
The Nobel laureate envisioned that reforms should be the first priority and must get the ball rolling before holding of the elections. The impediment is the politicians. The political leaders argue that reforms should be formulated in the parliament not the unelected government.
Sources said that Yunus is frustrated with the traditional political parties that are responsible for failing the country for decades. None of the political parties, despite repeated political commitment failed to initiate reforms in the crucial sectors.
The politicians for their interest, hate to reforms judiciary, civil administration, police administration, anti-corruption and establish an independent election commission.
These reforms would take a heavy toll on their political career. Earlier the politicians had politicized the judiciary, police and civil administration in their favor, especially in their constituencies.
Writer and political analyst Mohiuddin Ahmad told BBC Bangla portal, “BNP, Jamaat and NCP, these three parties now have over arching influence on the Interim Government. Tensions have increased between the three parties. As a result, there is a division in politics.”
At the same time, Mohiuddin Ahmad said that the chief advisor lacks the skills to handle the political situation. Overall, the government is not able to function and implement decisions. This stalemate has deepened the crisis and the government is facing challenges.
Ahmed said that if the government now heads towards elections, the parties including BNP will increase cooperation with the government. He believes that is a way out of the crisis.
The author is an independent journalist based in Bangladesh and a media rights defender with Reporters Without Borders. He is the recipient of the Ashoka Fellowship and the Hellman-Hammett Award. Twitter (X): @saleemsamad
Views are personal and IAR neither endorses them nor is responsible for them.
