- February 18, 2025
Global Watch | Bangladesh’s Democratic Crisis: Authoritarian Drift Under Yunus-Led Interim Government – News18
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Free and fair elections are essential for restoring Bangladesh’s democracy before it is irreversibly compromised under the guise of transitional governance
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has claimed a mandate to guide the country through this delicate transition, is increasingly exhibiting a tendency towards authoritarian rule that contradicts the democratic renewal it professes to support. (File pic/AP)
Months after the significant political upheaval in Dhaka triggered by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, the initial optimism regarding a pragmatic shift in Bangladesh’s political direction is swiftly transforming into disillusionment. What began as a strong resistance to the perceived entrenchment of autocratic governance under Hasina, a moment that seemed poised to recalibrate the nation’s political framework and institutionalise its emerging democratic achievements now appears to be fostering an increasingly troubling political environment. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has claimed a mandate to guide the country through this delicate transition, is increasingly exhibiting a tendency towards authoritarian rule that contradicts the democratic renewal it professes to support.
The emerging governance pattern under this unelected and non-democratic interim administration raises substantial concerns regarding the genuineness of the promised political reform, thereby engendering fears of a nascent trajectory of democratic regression rather than meaningful institutional consolidation. Rather than representing a departure from the authoritarian practices it previously condemned under the Awami League government, recent developments indicate that the actions of the transitional administration are merely a different iteration of political centralisation, albeit under a new façade.
The reforms being implemented by the Yunus-led interim government highlight a pattern of arbitrariness that raises significant concerns about the direction of Bangladesh’s political transition. Shortly after taking office as Chief Advisor of the transitional government in August 2024, Yunus announced in September the formation of several commissions, each endowed with a broad mandate to propose extensive structural reforms aimed at overhauling the nation’s governance framework. These commissions were assigned the task of reconfiguring essential institutional mechanisms, including constitutional amendments, judicial reorganisations, electoral system reforms, and restructuring law enforcement agencies, in addition to strengthening anti-corruption measures and enhancing broader governance frameworks. Allegedly, these initiatives, as claimed by the transitional government, are intended to eradicate systemic vulnerabilities that have historically allowed successive administrations to exploit institutional loopholes for political entrenchment and democratic decline.
Despite the submission of recommendations by various commissions, the interim government seems to be intentionally delaying the implementation of these proposed reforms. This strategic inertia, rather than facilitating a smooth transition to a more robust democratic framework, suggests an underlying intention to extend the administration’s extraconstitutional hold on power by deferring electoral processes. Such calculated postponements have not only exacerbated domestic concerns but have also attracted considerable international scrutiny.
Domestically, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which strategically aligned itself with the student-led protests to exploit the resulting political vacuum and position itself for power, has consistently expressed concerns regarding the Yunus-led interim administration’s evident hesitance to accelerate the electoral process.
The increasing discontent among groups such as the BNP underscores wider anxieties about the administration’s extended hold on power, intensifying fears that the transitional government’s ostensibly reformist agenda may merely serve as a pretext for the indefinite postponement of democratic restoration.
Internationally, Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its initial comprehensive evaluation of the Yunus administration, has issued a stark warning regarding the systemic delays in implementing reforms. In a report dated January 27, 2025, the global rights organisation cautioned that “this hard-won progress could all be lost if the interim government does not create swift and structural reforms that can withstand any repression by future governments”. Consequently, this escalating criticism underscores the precarious nature of Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory, as the very administration that has claimed a mandate to protect the country’s democratic consolidation increasingly exhibits tendencies reminiscent of the autocratic patterns it ostensibly aimed to dismantle.
A second equally concerning aspect that raises significant doubts about the interim administration’s claimed commitment to democratic consolidation and the rule of law is its ongoing and systematic campaign of political retribution over the past six months. Instead of fostering the anticipated political renewal based on principles of justice, transparency, and institutional impartiality, the Yunus-led government seems to have initiated a relentless campaign of political persecution, disproportionately targeting individuals and entities perceived to be affiliated with the beleaguered Awami League, as well as marginalised religious minorities.
As highlighted in the aforementioned HRW report, within just two months of assuming power, the interim government filed over 1,000 police cases “against tens of thousands of people…accusing them of murder, corruption, or other crimes.” Furthermore, it accused the police of employing abusive practices to target the “supporters—or perceived supporters—of the Awami League government,” thereby revealing its authoritarian nature. This orchestrated purge starkly contrasts with the administration’s rhetorical commitment to a “clean polity,” underscoring an emerging pattern of vindictive governance rather than authentic institutional reform.
The regime’s orchestrated crackdown on journalists and media organisations for their exposés on the political landscape following August 2024, particularly their documentation of anti-minority violence perpetrated by Islamist factions, illustrates its growing authoritarian tendencies. By systematically targeting the press, a vital institution for democratic accountability, the interim government not only undermines the principles of free expression but also entrenches a culture of fear and self-censorship, which are hallmarks of authoritarian consolidation.
As Mahfuz Anam, editor of the prominent Daily Star, emphasises in his October 2024 column, there is a widespread perception that the new administration is increasingly adopting measures that its supporters previously accused Sheikh Hasina of implementing during her last few years in power. He remarks, “A core criticism of the former government of Sheikh Hasina was the blatant misuse of law to imprison, harass and intimidate political opponents, critics, and members of the independent media. Activities by a section of political opportunists and vested groups may give rise to a perception that we are witnessing a revival of the same.”
These authoritarian tendencies not only undermine the foundational principles of democratic governance but also reinforce the growing perception that the transitional administration is more focused on consolidating its own power than on fostering a meaningful democratic revival. As the true motivations of the proponents of the interim government become increasingly apparent, it is crucial for the populace to see through the façade of hollow promises presented by this undemocratic regime and to demand free and fair elections as soon as possible. Such elections are essential for restoring Bangladesh’s democracy before it is irreversibly compromised under the guise of transitional governance.
The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
