Bangladesh Interim PM Muhammad Yunus Threatens Resignation Amid Growing Poll Pressure

Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, has threatened to resign after facing mounting pressure.

His statement followed protests by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a warning from Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

Student leaders are now mobilizing youths and Islamists to march towards the Army Cantonment in Dhaka, according to government sources and social media posts.

Observers believe the buzz around Yunus’ possible resignation may be a strategy to stir up agitation against the Army chief, who insists elections be held. The elections would mark the end of Yunus’ role as the de facto prime minister.

Student and Islamist Influence Escalates

Students and Islamists in Bangladesh have repeatedly asserted influence, from banning the Awami League to derailing women’s reforms and vandalizing Mujibur Rahman’s Dhanmondi 32 residence.

In all such instances, Yunus remained either silent or passively complicit. Anticipation of major protests after Friday prayers surfaced with posters in Dhaka calling for a “March for Yunus” at Shahbagh on Saturday, May 24.

These posters carried two demands: “Keep Yunus in Power for Five Years” and “Reforms First, Elections Later.”

The Rise of Yunus Amid Anti-Government Sentiment

Yunus’ resignation threat came dramatically, just as his ascent to power did.

He assumed office following a student-led agitation against job reservations, which eventually turned into an anti-Sheikh Hasina movement and forced the then Prime Minister to flee Dhaka on August 5, 2024.

Nahid Islam, a student leader turned Convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), told BBC Bangla that Yunus expressed his inability to function under the current political pressure. “I am being held hostage… I can’t work like this. Can’t all the political parties reach a common ground?” Nahid quoted Yunus as saying.

Cabinet Members Urge Yunus to Stay

Nahid resigned from Yunus’ Cabinet in February to head the newly formed NCP. On Thursday evening, Nahid and fellow NCP leader Ariful Islam Adeeb met Yunus at Jamuna, the state guest house. AFP reported that Nahid urged Yunus to stay in office.

Prothom Alo, quoting sources, reported that Yunus suggested forming a new interim government, expressing his desire to step down.

Other Cabinet members, such as Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam and Youth Adviser Asif Mahmud, also met with him. “He wanted to tender his resignation, but his Cabinet members persuaded him not to,” a source told AFP.

BNP and Army Chief Apply Pressure for Elections

The resignation threat followed a BNP protest demanding a defined timeline for elections. “The highest priority should be placed on announcing a clear road map for the election,” said BNP leader Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain.

This marked BNP’s first significant protest against the interim government.

Apart from calling for the resignation of Cabinet members aligned with NCP and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, the BNP also demanded the nomination of its candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation mayor.

With the Awami League banned from political activities, the BNP now sees an opportunity to win the elections. However, delays are viewed as tactics to block their rise, especially with the emergence of Nahid Islam’s NCP as a King’s Party.

There are growing concerns that Yunus is leveraging students and Islamists to cling to power without holding elections. Although he pledged elections by June 2026, political impatience is mounting.

Army Chief’s Ultimatum and Warnings

General Waker-Uz-Zaman has called for elections to be held by December, warning that further delays will not be tolerated.

He criticized Yunus’ administration for interfering in military matters and taking unilateral decisions on issues like the Rakhine corridor. During an internal address, he emphasized the country’s deteriorating condition.

“The structure of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies has collapsed and failed to reconstitute,” he reportedly said.

Fears of a Constitutional Overhaul and Student Mobilization

Analysts suspect Yunus may invoke the July Proclamation to declare a new Republic, repeal the 1972 Constitution, and remove General Zaman.

Concerns grow that Islamist mobs and Yunus’ NSA could be used against the Army chief, a rare military figure supporting democracy.

Knowing the risks of potential mob violence, General Zaman cautioned, “Violence and chaos in the name of mass mobilisation will no longer be tolerated,” according to Dhaka Tribune.

Government departments report that students and Islamists are planning massive protests after Friday prayers, including marches to Dhaka Cantonment and the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Videos of torch marches in Dhaka have emerged on social media. Some posts, however, urged citizens to refrain from participating in “traitor-led” demonstrations, claiming Yunus had “limited time only.”

What Lies Ahead for Bangladesh

Dhaka, already rocked by continuous protests since July 2024, is likely to face further unrest.

With Yunus under fire from both General Waker-Uz-Zaman and the BNP, his talk of resignation appears to be a maneuver to rally students and Islamists against the Army chief. As the political crisis deepens, the coming days are critical for the future of Bangladesh.