Abu Jakir :
The Interim Government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, is facing significant political turbulence as debates intensify over whether the priority should be forming a national government or holding general elections to address the country’s political and social crises.
Recent meetings with political, religious, and student leaders have been aimed at fostering national unity amid growing concerns about both local and international conspiracies that threaten to destabilise the country.
Speculation is mounting that a national government could be formed before elections, potentially extending the mandate of the interim government with Dr Yunus as its chief advisor.
Proposals discussed during these meetings include restructuring the advisory council to incorporate representatives from various political parties and increasing the number of advisors.
Legal advisor to the government, Professor Asif Nazrul, shared with journalists that suggestions have been made to establish a collective assembly, a unified political council, and even a security council to stabilise governance.
However, these proposals have sparked mixed reactions among political factions.
Meanwhile, the Adviser for Information and Broadcasting, Md Nahid Islam, stated that political parties are pushing for reforms under their leadership, and are attempting to portray the current interim government as ineffective. Instead of focusing on reforms, political parties have emphasised elections as their priority.
This statement was highlighted in a press release issued by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology on Wednesday.
According to the release, the advisor made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from British Global Partners Governance (GPG) at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the country’s major political parties, has voiced strong reservations about delaying elections in favour of forming a national government.
The BNP asserts that holding general elections first would address most of the ongoing crises and create a more representative national government.
BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan emphasised the urgency of an elected government to counter conspiracies and restore democratic aspirations. “Though Sheikh Hasina has been ousted, the democratic aspirations of the people remain unfulfilled.
Her collaborators are still conspiring against the country, and these conspiracies succeed because of the absence of an elected government. If elections are held and a representative government comes to power, 80 percent of the country’s crises would be resolved,” he asserted.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also reiterated the party’s stance, announcing plans to form a national government inclusive of all political parties after holding general elections.
“If the Yunus government announces an election roadmap and arranges for general elections, the country’s crises will be resolved soon,” Fakhrul stated.
Complicating matters, the newly formed Election Commission has indicated that preparing a comprehensive voter list through door-to-door verification will take considerable time.
The Commission has noted that elections based on the updated voter list may not be feasible until 2026, prolonging political uncertainty.
Political analyst Professor Mahbub Ullah offered a balanced perspective, stating, “In times of conspiracies and political crises, forming a national government can be vital.
However, a government formed after national elections with representatives chosen by the people would be stronger and more legitimate.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions with India have further complicated the interim government’s position. Allegations of persecution against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority have been amplified in Indian media, though many of these claims have been dismissed as exaggerated and part of a misinformation campaign.
Relations soured further after the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Sanatani Jagaran Jote spokesperson, on sedition charges. The subsequent attack on the Bangladeshi Assistant High Commission in Agartala and the burning of Bangladesh’s national flag drew sharp criticism, although India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed regret over the incident.
In a bid to address these challenges, the interim government convened a meeting with the BNP on November 27 to discuss potential solutions.
Dr Muhammad Yunus emphasised the importance of national unity during this crisis, while BNP leaders underscored the urgency of elections to restore stability.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman also called for patience and vigilance, urging all citizens to unite against conspiracies threatening democracy.
