In August of 2024, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the leader of the interim government in Bangladesh after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and fled to India. For many, the swearing-in of Yunus was hailed as a turning point for the country.
However, following the death of Bangladesh student leader
Sharif Osman Hadi, it appears that the country is turning on Yunus, with many accusing the Nobel laureate of floundering.
Here’s what we have found out so far.
A threat to topple the Yunus government
Days after Inqilab Moncho spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi, died after being shot in the head in Dhaka,
his brother, Sharif Omar Hadi, has accused a section within the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of orchestrating the assassination.
Addressing the government at a “Shahidi Shopoth” (Martyr’s Oath) programme organised by Inqilab Moncho in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Omar was quoted by the Daily Star as saying, “It is you who had Osman Hadi killed, and now you are trying to foil the election by using this as an issue.
“Ensure the trial of the killers quickly so that the election environment is not hindered. The government has failed to present any visible progress before us. If justice for Osman Hadi is not served, you too will be compelled to flee Bangladesh one day,” he warned.
Inqilab Moncho secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, also reiterated the same in his address. He also announced a protest procession in Dhaka at 3 pm on Monday, during which the platform would decide whether to continue backing the Yunus administration or “launch a movement to topple it.”
Jaber, as per a Hindustan Times report, also accused Yunus’s home and law advisers of “neglecting their duties and avoiding responsibility.” “Justice must be ensured before the election. If you cannot ensure justice, once the people start shedding blood, it will be unstoppable,” he was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Minorities also call out Yunus in Bangladesh
Even minority groups in Bangladesh are expressing anger and concern over the prevailing situation in the country, especially the lynching of a Dipu Chandra Das, the Hindu garment factory worker.
On Monday (December 22), the groups staged protests in Dhaka, forming a human chain, and saying the interim government has failed to stop violence, killings, and persecution of minority communities.
“He (Muhammad Yunus) claims he will build a humane Bangladesh, but in reality, he is an inhumane chief adviser,” joint coordinator of the Minority Unity Front Manindra Kumar Nath told the protesters in front of Jatiya Press Club.
Bangladesh spirals out of control before elections
Ahead of the scheduled elections in February, Bangladesh is witnessing extremely tumultuous times after the shooting and subsequent death of Sharif Osman Hadi.
Violent protests broke out in Bangladesh, which also saw the newspaper offices of Prothom Alo and _Daily Sta_r being attacked.
Besides the vandalism, the protests also saw the lynching of Das, a garment factory worker. He was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad and was lynched by a mob, who then tied his body to a tree and set it on fire.
Some protesters in Bangladesh also surrounded the offices and homes of members of the Indian High Commission in Khulna and Chattogram. Protesters even hurled bricks and stones at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram around 1.30 am. However, there was no damage. Police dispersed the crowd after firing tear gas and lathi-charging the mob.
In Rajshahi too, protesters attempted to march on the home of an Indian diplomat but were halted in their tracks by police.
Dhanmondi 32, the home of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was also set ablaze yet again. The structure had been partially demolished earlier this year after being vandalised by protesters. The office of Chhayanaut, an institution focusing on Bengali culture in Bangladesh, also came under attack. Its main office in Dhanmondi was vandalised and set ablaze.
International pressure mounts on Yunus
The violence in Bangladesh has also garnered the attention of international lawmakers. A group of US lawmakers expressed strong concern over the killing of the Hindu man and urged Bangladesh’s interim government to safeguard minority communities and uphold law and order.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois denounced the killing of Das, describing it as a targeted act of mob violence that comes at a time of growing unrest in the country. He stressed the need for Bangladeshi authorities to hold those responsible accountable, reinforce protections for religious minorities, and restore stability through the rule of law. “I am appalled by the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladesh — an act of violence amid a period of dangerous instability and unrest,” Krishnamoorthi said.
“While authorities have reported arrests, the Government of Bangladesh must aggressively pursue a full and transparent investigation and prosecute all those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
Even a Canadian lawmaker has criticised the Yunus administration for the state of affairs in Bangladesh. Speaking to NDTV, Shuvaloy Majumdar, Member of Parliament from Calgary Heritage and Vice Chair of Canada’s International Human Rights Subcommittee, described recent visuals of mob violence in Bangladesh as “absolutely horrific” and reflective of a deeper moral and institutional collapse.
Yunus speaks
Amid these circumstances, Bangladesh’s chief adviser Yunus has vowed that elections will be held on February 12 as scheduled, saying the country was determined to restore democratic rights that had been stolen by an autocratic regime.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s interim government finance adviser, Salehuddin Ahmed, told the media that Yunus is taking steps to ease tensions with India, with whom ties have deteriorated in recent times.
“The chief adviser is working to improve diplomatic relations with India, and he himself has also been speaking to various stakeholders on the issue,” Ahmed told reporters after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at his office. When asked if Yunus had directly communicated with Indian officials, Ahmed said the chief adviser “has not,” though he has engaged with those associated with the matter.
It’s left to be seen what happens next in Bangladesh. As of now, the country remains on edge — more so as former PM Khaleda Zia’s son,
Tarique Rahman, prepares to return tomorrow (December 25).
With inputs from agencies
