Bangladesh's Protests Remain Unfulfilled One Year After Revolution

Bangladesh revolutionaries have seen little progress one year after ousting former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Protestors demand reforms and trials, but political parties are divided on the timing of elections. The interim government faces pressure to hold an election soon, despite the students' party advocating for reforms and trials first.

One year after the student-led uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh remains mired in political uncertainty and division. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has struggled to implement promised reforms and restore stability, as political parties and factions vie for control.

The student protesters who ousted Hasina formed a new political party, aiming to break the influence of the Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) and the Awami League, Hasina's former ruling party. However, the party's opponents accuse it of being close to the Yunus-led administration and exploiting state institutions for political gain. Meanwhile, the country's largest Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, has returned to politics after a decade-long suppression under Hasina's rule, further fragmenting the political landscape.

The interim government has faced pressure to hold elections, with Yunus announcing polls for April 2026. However, the poor law and order situation and lack of political consensus have created confusion. The military chief has advocated for an early election in December 2025, a stance that Yunus did not support.

Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst, notes that the interim government faced massive expectations to restore democracy and prosperity but has struggled to do so as an unelected government without a public mandate. Yunus has delayed elections to implement reforms, including constitutional changes and judicial appointments. However, there is little consensus among political parties on the timing of elections and the nature of reforms.

Human rights concerns have also persisted under Yunus' administration. Minority groups, particularly Hindus, have blamed the interim government for failing to protect them adequately. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported hundreds of attacks on minority Hindus over the last year. The Yunus-led administration denies these allegations but has been criticized for not making significant progress on security sector reforms.

Moreover, Islamist factions have gained prominence, proposing changes to women's rights and demanding the introduction of Sharia law. These factions have struggled to gain significant electoral support historically but are now vying for power and building alliances with larger parties like the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami.

The interim government has also seen a shift in diplomatic relations. Bangladesh, traditionally India's closest partner in South Asia, has moved closer to China. Yunus' first state visit was to China in March 2025, securing investments, loans, and grants. India, however, remains angered by Hasina's ousting and has not responded to Dhaka's requests to extradite her.

Globally, Yunus has strong backing from the West and the United Nations, but the country faces challenges due to the "Trump factor." In January 2025, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, which had sought significant U.S. support during the critical rebuild period post-Hasina's ouster.

Bangladesh's political and diplomatic landscape remains fluid, with significant challenges ahead. The interim government must navigate the complexities of implementing reforms, restoring stability, and addressing human rights concerns while maintaining diplomatic relations with key global powers.

References:
[1] https://560theanswer.com/politics/bangladesh-struggles-to-contain-the-fallout-of-an-uprising-that-toppled-its-lead/a66a85e7c17970c4d1fc66a0187d9a75
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bangladesh-struggles-fallout-uprising-toppled-leader-year-123758220