As key parties stand firm on demands, how will CA Yunus play his hand?

Amid swirling speculation over Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s potential resignation, the key political parties have urged him to stay on and lead the country through its turbulent transition.

Speculation over Yunus’s possible resignation has triggered fresh concern about political stability. While the parties formally appealed to him to stay during separate meetings on Saturday night, they remained unmoved on core issues, namely reforms, judicial oversight, and the timeline for national elections.

A senior official present at the trilateral meetings confirmed that Yunus listened attentively but refrained from making any direct statement about his future or the growing rumours of resignation.

“He gave no formal remarks, just heard everyone out,” the official said.

Earlier in the day, following a special, unscheduled session of the Advisory Council after an ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) meeting, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud addressed media queries.

He clarified that Yunus had not announced an intention to step down, but had cited mounting obstacles in carrying out his responsibilities effectively.

On Saturday evening, the chief advisor held back-to-back meetings, first with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), then Jamaat-e-Islami, and finally National Citizen Party (NCP).

Each party reiterated its longstanding positions.

BNP maintained its demand for parliamentary elections by December, a commitment it says was not assured by Yunus during the meeting.

Jamaat called for a roadmap for reform alongside elections, though stopped short of proposing a specific timeframe.

The NCP, for its part, pressed for a more sweeping agenda: justice system reforms, a new Constituent Assembly, and the declaration of all elections held under the Awami League regime illegal.

Though Yunus is expected to meet several smaller parties on Sunday, political observers note that the stance of these three dominant factions now frames the core challenge facing the interim administration.

Abdul Alim, a former Electoral Reform Commission member, has urged that elections be held as soon as possible to maintain cooperation among political stakeholders.

Political analysts say Yunus’s latest outreach to rival parties was a calculated effort to ease the instability that has gripped Bangladesh in recent days—an attempt they believe has seen modest success.

Yet, they warn that unless a clear roadmap for national elections is announced soon, the divisions among key parties may deepen further, fuelling new waves of unrest.

FRAGILE ALLIANCES

Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, returned from France last August to lead an interim government following the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League through a mass uprising spearheaded by student groups.

In the 10 months since his administration has largely avoided direct confrontation. However, it now faces sharp criticism over controversial decisions, particularly its stance on allowing a "humanitarian corridor" into Myanmar’s Rakhine state and handing over port terminal operations to foreign companies.

Opposition factions that were once united in the wake of the government collapse—most notably the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP)—have grown increasingly fragmented.

Disputes over the timing of elections, demands for constitutional reform, and the political future of the Awami League have caused visible rifts.

Prior to this, the government faced sharp criticism over incidents of mob violence, including vandalism, arson, and looting.

Following the ouster of Hasina, many senior figures, including the former prime minister herself, ministers, MPs, and party leaders, fled the country.

FROM UNITY TO DISCORD

The brief unity forged during the so-called "July Proclamation" has gradually eroded. The student movement, once a cohesive force, has splintered, first over the removal of the president, and later over strategic disagreements with BNP leadership.

In February, the student-led movement and the National Citizens’ Committee formally launched the NCP, a move that exposed widening cracks in the alliance.

Frictions grew more pronounced when the NCP successfully pressured the government to outlaw the Awami League, and BNP leader Ishraque Hossain adopted similar protest tactics to demand his swearing-in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.

Supporters of Ishraque have staged continuous protests outside Nagar Bhaban and later blocked roads near the chief advisor’s residence in Kakrail. From the demonstration site, Ishraq also called for the resignation of Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Information Advisor Mahfuz Alam.

In response, the NCP accused the Election Commission of partiality after it gazetted Ishraque’s mayoral appointment.

The party organised a protest at the Election Commission’s headquarters, where NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari denounced senior advisors—including Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, and Law Advisor Asif Nazrul—as "BNP mouthpieces" and demanded their immediate resignation.

MILITARY, MEDIA, AND MOUNTING PRESSURE

Strains deepened following a speech by Army Chief General Waqar-Uz-Zaman at the Dhaka Cantonment on Wednesday. He expressed strong reservations about the proposed election timeline, the Myanmar corridor, and the delegation of port management to foreign entities, exposing growing fault lines within the administration.

On Thursday, the BNP held an emergency press conference, demanding the resignations of advisors for local government, information, and national security. They issued an ultimatum: if elections are not held by December, they will withdraw support for the interim government.

Amid this mounting pressure, rumours have intensified that Chief Advisor Yunus may be considering resignation—a move that could plunge the country into deeper political uncertainty.

MEETING WITH THREE PARTIES

While the BNP and Jamaat received invitations to meet the chief advisor on Friday night, it was Saturday’s back-to-back meetings that drew national attention.

The announcement of a meeting between the NCP leaders and Yunus came shortly after the NCP held a press conference to outline its demands.

Later that evening, the chief advisor met consecutively with representatives of the three key political forces at his official residence, the State Guest House Jamuna.

During their nearly 50-minute meeting that began around 7:45pm, the BNP delegation demanded a complete overhaul of the Advisory Council with the exclusion of what they called were “controversial figures” and the announcement of a clear roadmap for elections to be held by December.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Moyeen Khan said that announcing an election roadmap would help restore calm in the country.

His colleague, Salahuddin, added that the delegation had also raised concerns over national security and called for the resignation of the two student advisors in the interim cabinet.

Following the BNP meeting, Yunus met with two senior leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami. After an hour-long discussion, party chief Shafiqur Rahman addressed the media around 9:30pm.

“If two roadmaps are drawn, one for elections and another for justice and reform,” he said, “the remaining issues will resolve themselves. The election should be held at a time convenient for the people. But before that, the public must see visible progress on justice and reform.”

At approximately 9:45pm, the chief advisor sat down with representatives from the NCP, the party formed by student leaders who spearheaded the July Uprising. Convenor Nahid Islam spoke to the press following the meeting around10:10pm.

He said the NCP had called for the formal issuance of the July Proclamation within the promised 30 working days and received assurances.

The party also urged swift action to rehabilitate families of those killed or injured in the July movement, including access to savings certificates and monthly allowances.

It demanded that all national and local elections held during deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure be legally declared “invalid”.

Expressing a loss of faith in the current Election Commission, Nahid called for its reconstitution to pave the way for immediate local government polls.

The NCP also pressed for an integrated roadmap covering three core areas: justice for the July massacre, the ongoing state reform process including the declaration of the July Charter, and the timely election of both a Constituent Assembly and a legislature.

‘YOU WILL FIND A REPLACEMENT’

A senior official from the Chief Advisor’s Office, who attended meetings with top party leaders, told bdnews24.com that Yunus remained silent on his decision but listened attentively as parties pleaded with him to reconsider.

“The BNP expressed deep concern,” said the official. “They told him, ‘Your resignation would throw us into a severe crisis. Why are you even considering it? Who could replace you?’ To this, the chief advisor replied calmly, ‘You will find a replacement’.”

Despite Yunus’s measured response, the BNP pledged full support and urged him not to resign.

According to the official, Jamaat also voiced disappointment. “They asked him not to be disheartened and assured him of their continued support,” he said.

The NCP took a more assertive stance. “They said they were prepared to return to the streets if needed,” the official added. “But Yunus responded, ‘No, there’s no need to take to the streets.’”

The meeting was called days after Yunus was said to have been “contemplating resignation”, which triggered widespread confusion and speculation.

Speaking to reporters, NCP’s Nahid said: “We urged the chief advisor to stay in office and resolve party disputes through political dialogue. We reminded him that he assumed this role not at the behest of any political party, but in response to the call of the people, especially the students who led the mass uprising.”

Asked why Yunus was disheartened, Nahid said: “Muhammad Yunus expressed his frustration because the promises that prompted him to take up leadership in the first place are now under threat.

“He is questioning whether he can still carry out his duties, or if resignation is the only path forward,” the former advisor added.

“This has already been reported widely in the media and on social platforms. This meeting took place in that context.”

Another insider from the Chief Advisor’s Office described Yunus as withdrawn and anxious in recent days. “He hasn’t spoken much. He hasn’t smiled. Even at the Advisory Council meeting this morning, he gave no assurance that he would stay,” the official said.

However, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin later sought to dispel the speculation. “He never said he would resign. He spoke about the challenges in fulfilling our responsibilities,” Mahmud stated after the ECNEC meeting. “But overcoming those obstacles is part of the job. We cannot simply walk away.”

Wahiduddin noted that the Advisory Council had discussed the hurdles various ministries faced in implementing reforms and reviewed progress across sectors.

In a separate afternoon statement, the interim cabinet warned that if its work were disrupted by “defeated forces” or “foreign conspiracies,” it would publicly disclose the reasons and determine its next steps accordingly.

“The Council believes national unity is essential to safeguard stability, advance electoral preparations, ensure justice and reform, and prevent any return to authoritarianism,” the statement read.

Political analysts believe the immediate crisis has eased somewhat following Yunus’s meetings with the three major post-Uprising parties.

Still, uncertainty hangs in the air as the interim government navigates intense scrutiny and internal pressure.

‘GOVT UNDER PRESSURE, RELIEF EXPECTED THROUGH POLLS’

Following meetings with three major political parties, Yunus received unequivocal backing for his continued leadership, according to Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

He said the parties expressed full confidence in Yunus and agreed to proceed with general elections under his stewardship.

The chief advisor, in turn, assured them that polls would be held between December and June.

Commenting on the political developments, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the National Election Observation Council (JANIPOP), told bdnews24.com that consensus from just three parties was “insufficient” for any conclusive outcome.

“There are both registered and unregistered parties in the field,” he said. “A settlement based on talks with only three is not adequate.”

He noted that the government's current stance “seemed designed to alleviate the pressure it is facing”.

Nazmul also remarked that Yunus was not the type to “juggle demands and expectations around elections” in an opportunistic fashion.

Alim, a political analyst, told bdnews24.com: “The current disarray suggests we may have erred at the outset.

“The problem lies in a lack of clarity about the caretaker government’s role.”

Several parties, including the BNP, have argued that the interim government is unelected and therefore should do nothing beyond holding elections.

In contrast, the caretaker administration has maintained that it has three specific responsibilities.

According to Alim, this misunderstanding should have been resolved immediately after the government took office, but that was not done.

He warned that a lack of cooperation from political parties could create uncertainty, and advised the government to hold elections as soon as possible to secure their support.

“Since comprehensive reforms are not feasible before the vote, the focus should be on essential measures, with the election held as swiftly as possible,” Alim said.

Dhaka University anthropology professor Zobaida Nasreen told bdnews24.com that the election-related impasse is not the sole reason behind the current crisis.

She noted that the interim government had made decisions on corridor and port issues without consulting political parties and stakeholders.

According to her, the only democratic solution now lies in holding elections. “If the government swiftly organises polls and transfers power through democratic means, it will bring relief for all,” she said.

Associate professor of political science at Dhaka University Kazi Mahbobor Rahman told bdnews24.com that recent days had seen “visible tensions” between the government and political parties, but the latest discussions had helped “reduce” that strain.

He said the current government has taken office to navigate a crisis and must prioritise three key areas.

Mahbobor explained that the election roadmap must remain the highest priority, as the interim government is transitional by nature.

“To exit, it must have a clear deadline—when and how it plans to hold elections,” he said.

In parallel, he stressed the importance of initiating long-demanded reforms to establish an accountable form of governance. “These reforms must be taken forward with sufficient seriousness.

"In addition, there is the demand for justice. Fair trials must be made visible," he added.