Six months after the ouster of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid violent protests, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is grappling with escalating public frustration, economic turmoil, and allegations of repression. While Yunus was initially hailed as a unifying figure to steer the country toward democratic reforms, his administration now faces mounting criticism for failing to deliver on key promises and address ongoing instability.



The Fall of Hasina and Yunus’s Rise

The political crisis began in July 2024 when student-led protests against job quotas spiraled into a nationwide uprising demanding Hasina’s resignation, accusing her government of authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights abuses. After weeks of clashes that left hundreds dead, Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, ending her 15-year rule. Three days later, Yunus, a microfinance pioneer and longtime critic of Hasina, was appointed as interim chief adviser by student activists and military-backed leaders, tasked with restoring democracy and overseeing elections .

Yunus’s Unfulfilled Promises

Yunus’s government pledged to prioritize economic recovery, institutional reforms, and public safety. However, six months in, the interim administration has struggled to deliver:

  • Economic Crisis: Inflation remains near double digits, GDP growth between July–December 2024 dropped to under 2%, and foreign direct investment plummeted by 71% post-Hasina’s ouster .
  • Law and Order Collapse: Police officers have refused duty, and anti-Hasina activists continue violent attacks, including vandalizing the home of Bangladesh’s independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Hasina’s father) and targeting religious minorities .
  • Opaque Governance: Despite setting up reform commissions, the government has provided little clarity on its goals, fueling public skepticism .

New Repression Allegations

While Hasina was criticized for suppressing dissent, Yunus’s regime faces similar accusations:

  • Media Crackdown: Rights groups like Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch accuse the government of targeting journalists and replacing Hasina’s controversial Cyber Security Act with a similarly restrictive ordinance .
  • Minority Attacks: The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council指责 the interim government for failing to protect minorities from violence, though officials blame “political motives” for the attacks .

Growing Calls for Elections

Yunus’s lack of a formal mandate has intensified pressure for elections. While he pledged to hold polls by year-end, no timeline has been set, prompting concerns from opposition parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman warned this week that delays under the guise of reforms could deepen the crisis: “The sooner we establish a people’s government, the sooner Bangladesh will prosper” .

External Challenges Loom

The next government will inherit thorny foreign policy issues:

  • Tensions with India: Bangladesh summoned an Indian diplomat over Hasina’s “provocative” remarks from exile, while New Delhi ignores extradition requests for her .
  • US Relations: With the new Trump administration’s policies unclear, Bangladesh’s strategic ties remain uncertain.
  • Myanmar Border Crisis: Conflict with the Arakan Army in Myanmar threatens regional stability .

As Bangladesh marks six months since Hasina’s ouster, the interim government’s honeymoon period is over. Yunus faces the daunting task of balancing reforms, public expectations, and external pressures. With elections delayed and instability rampant, the country’s path to stability remains precarious. For now, Bangladesh’s future hinges on whether Yunus can deliver tangible change—or risk mirroring the failures of the regime he replaced.