Can Muhammad Yunus overcome the legacy of Hasina’s rule and deliver on reform promises?

34 mins | 20 February 2025

Susmita Jebin sits down with Mahidur Rahman, a member of the Chairperson’s Advisory Council of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to discuss the country’s crucial reform plans and the much-anticipated national election in late 2025 or early 2026.

Muhammad Yunus, now the interim leader of Bangladesh, faces the formidable task of rebuilding the nation following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. With inflation on the rise, delays in critical reforms, and ongoing issues with law and order, Yunus must manoeuvre through a challenging political landscape. The Awami League, under Hasina’s leadership, remains a significant force, regrouping and resisting the reform agenda.

Yunus’s government has established commissions to address reforms in various sectors, including the electoral system, rule of law, and public administration. However, progress is hampered by the absence of a clear election date and persistent corruption within the civil service. The interim government must tackle these challenges while ensuring the protection of human rights and media freedom.