Crisis brews in post-Uprising Bangladesh over ‘fragile authority’, fractured alliances

As tensions mount across Bangladesh, a new wave of political uncertainty looms large.

Escalating disputes between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and National Citizen Party (NCP) over proposed “humanitarian corridor” in Myanmar’s Rakhine, the handover of operations at Chattogram Port to a foreign firm, and the timeline of general elections signal a new phase of political instability following the July Uprising.

Reports of the Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman’s remarks at the ‘Officers’ Address’ event, followed by the chief advisor’s reported “resignation thoughts”, have raised fresh questions about the government’s authority.

Judging by statements from political analysts and leaders across party lines, the emerging crisis is broadly being attributed to weak government control, doubts over the reform and election process, and growing disunity among the parties that supported the uprising.

In a dramatic political shift, the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024 triggered a popular uprising, led predominantly by student groups.

At their request, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned from France just three days later to assume leadership of the interim government.

At the airport, greeted by student leaders, Yunus delivered a blunt message to the nation:

"If you trust me, ensure that no one, anywhere, is attacked. But if you won’t heed my words, then I have no place here. Let me go. But if you believe I’m needed, you must listen to me."

He appealed to civil servants and military chiefs alike: "We are one family. Let’s avoid chaos. Let’s move forward together."

For the first 10 months, Yunus’s leadership weathered criticism without serious opposition. But that calm is now fracturing. Political parties, including the BNP, have launched fierce protests against the government’s decisions—especially the foreign control of key infrastructure and the controversial “humanitarian corridor” initiative.

Behind the scenes, friction among former pro-Uprising groups has grown sharper, particularly over calls to ban the Awami League and delays in reform and election declarations.

Meanwhile, the government’s perceived failure to prevent mob violence, marked by looting, arson, and vandalism, has further dented public trust.

Protesters have increasingly pushed against the boundaries of authority. Demonstrations, defying restrictions, have echoed loudly just outside the chief advisor’s residence at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Amid these cascading challenges, rumours emerged on Thursday that Yunus may be considering resignation. The speculation gained traction following a tense Advisory Council meeting where Yunus reportedly expressed frustration over the deteriorating political landscape.

Amid the uncertainty, Army chief Gen Waker, addressing the officers the previous day, publicly criticised key government decisions, including the proposed election timeline, the Myanmar corridor, and foreign control of port terminals.

His statements laid bare internal rifts within the transitional authority.

That evening, Nahid Islam, convenor of the newly formed NCP, and a former advisor, met with Yunus.

Afterward, Nahid confirmed Yunus’s growing disillusionment, telling BBC Bangla: “The chief advisor said he came to serve. But if the environment does not permit that, he will seriously consider stepping down.”

HOW THE CRISIS BEGAN

The political fracture began soon after the Awami League government was toppled in a mass uprising.

Several former ministers, MPs, and senior leaders reportedly fled the country.

Although the unity behind the July movement initially held for a few months, cracks began to emerge among the student groups leading the movement.

Tensions grew further when the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, a key force behind the uprising, distanced itself from the BNP over disagreements surrounding the removal of the president and the July Proclamation.

In February, the launch of the NCP by student protesters and their National Citizens’ Committee marked the beginning of clear rifts among the allied groups, especially over reform and election agendas.

While the NCP leveraged street mobilisation to secure a formal ban on the Awami League, the BNP attempted to mirror that success through its own tactics.

Conflict intensified when BNP leader Ishraque Hossain launched a campaign to be sworn in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

His supporters began a continuous protest outside the Nagar Bhaban a week ago, later blocking roads in Kakrail near the chief advisor’s residence.

From those rallies, Ishraque publicly demanded the resignation of Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam.

The NCP, on the other hand, questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) after it issued the gazette confirming Ishraque’s mayorship.

They protested outside the Nirbachan Bhaban demanding its reconstitution.

Addressing that protest, NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari branded Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, Finanace Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed and Law Advisor Asif Nazrul as “BNP mouthpieces”, calling for their immediate resignation.

On Thursday, the BNP held an emergency press conference, calling for the removal of the local government, information, and national security advisors.

It issued a warning: if elections are not held by December, the party will withdraw support from the interim administration.

Amid the deepening political standoff, rumours began circulating that Yunus had “expressed a desire to resign”.

AB PARTY CHIEF BRANDS GOVT’S AUTHORITY AS ‘WEAK’

At an emergency press conference on Friday, AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju highlighted a series of protests in recent months by students and professionals, citing them as signs of mounting unrest.

He noted that demonstrators had surrounded the chief advisor’s official residence during the anti-Awami League campaign.

That same site was later targeted by students from Jagannath University and, more recently, by supporters of Ishraque.

Mojibur pointed to rising frictions between the BNP and the NCP, accusing both camps of engaging in “mudslinging” and issuing mutual demands for the resignation of six government advisors.

He also recalled how Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, clashed with NCP following the Awami League ban protests, sparked by “remarks” from Advisor Mahfuj.

“We are witnessing BNP and NCP standing in outright opposition to each other,” the AB Party chief said.

“This polarisation has also strained relations with the government.”

He also referenced the controversy over former president Abdul Hamid’s abroad travel and flagged growing discord following Gen Waker’s address to officers—remarks that appeared to diverge from the government’s stance.

“These developments suggest a murky political climate involving major parties, student allies, and even the military leadership,” Mojibur said.

“It appears to us that the government’s position is weakening—it is failing to exert effective authority.”

WHAT ANALYSTS SAY

The current turmoil stems from the government’s own structural and functional failures, according to Kazi Mohammad Mahbobor Rahman, associate professor of political science at the University of Dhaka.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said: “This situation is a direct result of how the government is structured and how it operates. If it had functioned appropriately, we wouldn’t be here.

“Law and order, justice, and reforms—all are at a dangerously low point. The public’s expectations should have been met much earlier.”

Mahbobor argued that the government has failed to show results over the last nine months. “It could not fulfil the public’s demands. Worse, the government was rebuilt by those who previously sustained authoritarianism over 15 years.

“Those who led the Anti-discrimination Movement were largely sidelined.”

He added, “Justice, reform, and elections were supposed to be the pillars of this government. Yet, it has failed to make visible progress on any front.

“This has triggered instability within the administration. They are clearly uneasy. And the public is unsure how long this government will even last.”

Asked what the government should do now, Mahbobor said: “Regardless of the election schedule, they could have set a clear deadline. They should have held regular talks with political parties.

“There’s still time—they should engage in dialogue and build consensus.”

Against this backdrop, the NCP has called an emergency press briefing for Saturday at noon.

In the evening, Yunus is expected to meet leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP separately.

WHAT POLITICAL LEADERS ARE SAYING

Mushtuq Husain, Standing Committee member of Bangladesh JaSaD and former DUCSU general secretary, has said the current political standoff stems from the government and political parties failing to resolve differences through dialogue.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he said: “Political parties, students, and the military are now distinct actors. There must be open dialogue and a mindset for compromise.

“Reforms are essential to ensure the election is meaningful.”

He stressed the need to announce an electoral roadmap to overcome the crisis, while not downplaying the importance of reform.

A leader in the 1990 mass uprising, Mushtuq warned that “if reforms are not initiated now, they might never happen.”

Referring to lingering doubts over whether the ousted party leaders will be prosecuted, he said people need reassurance.

“A roadmap combining reform, elections, and justice could help restore normalcy,” he added, suggesting that political parties and the military should be engaged in dialogue, given “their contribution to the July Uprising”.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince echoed similar concerns, saying the interim government's core responsibilities are justice, reforms, and ensuring credible elections—but it has “overreached”.

“The government should have focused first on reforms needed for a fair election,” he told bdnews24.com. “While the justice process may have started, they have taken on far too much.

“People have long been deprived of their rights. If the timeline drags on, people will inevitably bring forward their demands.”

Highlighting the military’s role, Ruhin said it has shown commendable restraint following the uprising.

He criticised the caretaker administration’s involvement in port and corridor deals. “That’s not the task of an unelected government. The public is questioning whether the goal is to hold elections or serve other interests.”

NCP leader Nahid claimed there’s a plot to derail democratic transition, warning of a repeat of 1/11.

In a Facebook post, he alleged the plan is being “drafted in Delhi” to destabilise Bangladesh.

BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Zainul Abdin Farroque said the “delay” in announcing an election date is the root of the unrest.

Addressing a rally in Dhaka, he said Yunus is “admired” and should not leave “disgraced”.

HOPE FOR ‘MISUNDERSTANDING’ TO END

Some observers have described the apparent rift between the government, military, and political parties as a “misunderstanding” that needs resolution.

Against this backdrop, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday urged interim head Yunus to convene an all-party meeting.

Commenting on the growing trust deficit between the government and political parties, AB Party Chairman Mojibur warned that such a crisis could deepen if left unaddressed.

He said several parties, including the BNP, fear that the current government may attempt to “extend its hold on power” by indirect means.

He also noted rising suspicions around the proposed corridor and port agreements.

Mojibur said the government could have consulted all stakeholders on major issues through the National Consensus Commission. “We urge that Yunus’s resignation should not be seen as a solution,” he said. “Nor should it be politicised, as that too will lead us nowhere.”

“If he steps down now, no one else will have the courage to take responsibility based on the national consensus. In this climate, it would create a dangerous vacuum and spread fear and uncertainty.”

Columnist and political thinker Farhad Mazhar has criticised Yunus’s reported intention to resign, calling it a “mistake” and “self-defeating”.

In a Facebook post, he also called for an end to the “misunderstanding” between Yunus and the military.

“Dr Yunus made a mistake by expressing a desire to resign,” Mazhar wrote. “Resignation would be a mark of failure and a self-inflicted blow. Rather than yielding to pressure from any group or party, he should honour the people’s historic mandate and place his trust in them.”

He continued, “To achieve the goals set by the people, the misunderstanding between Dr Yunus and the Bangladesh Army must be resolved.”

Hasnat Abdullah, a senior organiser of the NCP’s southern region, echoed similar sentiments in his own Facebook post.

“We were able to dismantle a deeply entrenched fascism of nearly two decades because we stood united. If we become fragmented, that defeated fascism and its domestic and foreign allies will seize the opportunity to destroy us.”

He stressed the need for unity in the national interest. “This unity is not for the benefit of any individual or group—it is for our country, and there is no alternative to staying united.”

Meanwhile, Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, expressed concern that the country is no longer on the path to political unity. She believes the alliance began to fracture as early as September–October last year.

“If all sides had shown a little maturity, just a little concession, in honour of the martyrs, we could have at least maintained stability through the election,” she wrote.

Fatema warned that internal forces are actively working to destabilise the country, and that many of the July Uprising’s revolutionary factions have now become “restless” in their pursuit of power.

In her Facebook post, she concluded: “Only political wisdom, patience, and consensus-building at the negotiating table can guide the country toward democratic transition.”