Page 2 - Muhammad Yunus

Bangladesh struggles with unrest fallout after last year's govt ouster

Bangladesh was on the cusp of charting a new beginning last year after its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her to flee to India. As the head of a new interim government, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus promised to hold a credible election to return to democracy, initiate electoral and constitutional reforms and restore peace on the streets after hundreds were killed in weeks of violence that began on July 15, 2024. A year later, the Yunus-led administration has struggled to contain the fallout of the uprising. Bangladesh finds itself mired in a growing political uncertainty, religious polarisation and a challenging law-and-order situation. Here's what to know about Bangladesh a year after the protests that toppled Hasina. Chaotic political landscape Uncertainty about the future of democracy looms large in Bangladesh. The student protesters who toppled Hasina formed a new political

Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina formally indicted in crimes against humanity case

Bangladesh's deposed premier Sheikh Hasina was on Thursday formally indicted in a crimes against humanity case by the country's International Crimes Tribunal, media reports said. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) ordered a crimes against humanity case against the ousted prime minister, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former inspector general of police Abdullah Al Mamun for their attempts to suppress the July-August student-led protests last year. Mamun has pleaded guilty and petitioned to turn state's witness in the case, according to the bdnews24 news portal. It added that he is the only one of the three to be detained in jail. The trial will proceed with the other two in absentia. Hasina fled to India on August 5 after her Awami League government was toppled last year.

Mob violence was public outrage, not anti-judiciary, says Bangladesh AG

Bangladesh's Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman on Saturday said last year's nationwide mob violence was not manifestation of distrust against judiciary but rather an outburst of public outrage against the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's ousted Awami League regime. Asaduzzaman was speaking at a function organised as part of the series of events coinciding with the first anniversary of the Awami League regime's ouster on August 5 last year after a more than a month-long student-led agitation that had witnessed violence at several places across the country. This (mob violence) is not a reflection of public distrust of the judiciary, rather an expression of anger accumulated in the past 17 years (against the past regime), Asaduzzaman said. The attorney general, however, said such anger is not justified. A leading rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) had last month reported deaths of at least 179 people in mob attacks between August 2024, when the past regime was ousted, an

B'desh interim govt pursuing extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina

Foreign Affairs Advisor to B'desh Interim Government, Md Towhid Hossain stated that a letter was sent to India requesting Hasina's extradition and noted that necessary follow-ups would also be made

Bangladesh court sentences Sheikh Hasina to 6 mths in jail in contempt case

This is the first time that the ousted Awami League leader has been sentenced in a case since she left office last year and fled the country

Next elections to be 'most credible' in Bangladesh's history: Yunus' aide

The next general elections will be the "most credible and peaceful" in Bangladesh's history, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' aide has said, asserting that the interim government has taken all necessary measures to ensure free and fair polls. Yunus' Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam made the remarks on Saturday during an interaction with journalists in Khulna city, the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported. General elections in Bangladesh are scheduled for the first half of April next year, the chief adviser announced last month. Asserting that the polls will take place in a festive and peaceful environment, Alam said, "The upcoming national election will be the most credible and peaceful one in the country's history." He said that the primary goal of the mass uprising in July 2024, which ousted the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, was to restore democracy in Bangladesh and added that the interim government has taken all necessary measures to ensure free a

India curbs jute imports from Bangladesh to protect domestic industry

India has restricted jute and fibre imports from Bangladesh to only Nhava Sheva port, citing unfair trade practices, subsidies, and the need to protect domestic industry and rural jobs

B'desh interim govt forms committee to probe allegations over last 3 polls

The interim government of Bangladesh has formed a committee to investigate allegations of irregularities, corruption and administrative involvement in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections and make recommendations on ensuring fair elections in the future, a notification said. The five-member panel led by former high court justice Shamim Hasnain will submit a report by September 30 on allegations that the three elections were manipulated to secure victories for the then-ruling Awami League party by systematically depriving citizens of their voting rights, BD NEWS 24 quoted the cabinet division notification as saying on Thursday. The notification said the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental human rights were reportedly undermined during the elections, which faced widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. It said the committee would analyse reports from election observers, domestic and international monitoring bodies, civil society organisations, and media ..

Over 5K social media accounts from Islamic nations back Assam Cong: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that over 5,000 social media accounts, mostly operated from Islamic countries, have become active in favour of the Assam Congress. Addressing a press conference, Sarma claimed that these accountsoriginating from 47 countries, with the highest numbers from Bangladesh and Pakistanhave been focusing exclusively on the activities of a particular Assam Congress leader and the party's state unit pages over the past month. "It is surprising that they do not comment on or like posts by Rahul Gandhi or even the Indian National Congress. They are only focused on a particular leader and the Assam Congress," Sarma said. Besides Assam, they post Islamic fundamentalist content, including pro-Palestine, Iran and Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Prof Md Yunus. Though the CM did not name the leader, he appeared to be referring to Gaurav Gogoi, who was appointed Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president in May last week. Sarma remarked, "We are

In UK, Yunus says no direct communication with British PM

Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that he has had no direct communication with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in connection with the recovery of stolen money allegedly under the previous Hasina regime in Dhaka. Downing Street sources indicated that no formal meeting had been agreed during the Chief Adviser's visit to London this week. Yunus told The Financial Times' newspaper that the UK has a moral responsibility to assist Bangladesh in tracing and retrieving funds stolen by the previous regime and allegedly funnelled into Britain. I have no direct conversation with him, Yunus told the Financial Times' with reference to Starmer. I have no doubt he would support us. This is stolen money We need the support from the people of Great Britain, he said. The 84-year-old Nobel Laureate took over as the head of the interim government after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a massive student-led protest in Bangladesh in August last year

B'desh wanted good ties with India, but something always went wrong: Yunus

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that his interim government wanted good relations with India, but "something always went wrong". During an interaction with Chatham House think tank director Bronwen Maddox in London on Wednesday, Yunus addressed a wide range of issues including bilateral ties with India and the democratic roadmap for the country, starting with a July Charter next month. Maddox referenced an informal diplomatic note issued to India seeking deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition and sought an update on the matter. This will continue we want the whole process to be very legal, very proper We want to build the best of relationship with India. It's our neighbour, we don't want to have any kind of basic problem with them, Yunus said. But somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press and many people say it has connections with policymakers on the top," he said. "So, this is what makes Bangladesh v

B'desh Awami League concerned over Starmer's upcoming meeting with Yunus

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is going on a bilateral official visit to the United Kingdom from June 10 to 13, 2025

Yunus acted without consulting parties: Ex-Indian envoy on Bangladesh polls

The former envoy said the neighbouring country must have early elections and that the Bangladesh Army has yet to react to the announcement

People 'disappointed' with announcement of B'desh polls in April 2026: BNP

People are "disappointed" by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's announcement to hold elections in April 2026, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Saturday, asserting that April is not the "right time" to conduct polls. The party reiterated its demand for polls by December this year. "April is not the right time for polls in Bangladesh in any way, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists. His statement came a day after Yunus, during a televised address to the nation on the eve of the Eid-ul-Adha festival, announced that national elections would be held in the first half of April next year. Yunus' announcement was followed by an urgent virtual meeting of the standing committee of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's BNP, presided over by the party's acting chairman and Zia's son Tarique Rahman from London. In a statement, the BNP said Yunus' address meant an unwarranted delay in arranging the election, adding that it ignored the nation's aspirations, caus

Bangladesh elections set for April 2026; Yunus rules out early polls

Yunus confirms Bangladesh elections for April 2026, dismissing BNP's call for early polls amid political unrest, reform delays, and growing tensions with India since Hasina's exile in 2024

Anti-independence forces stage mock trial against Hasina: Awami League

Formal charges were filed on Sunday against then Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity committed during the student-led uprising in July-August 2024

Yunus vows to uphold minority rights in B'desh during constitutional reform

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday said any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights, asserting that minorities will continue to enjoy the same rights as the majority Muslim population. The head of the interim government made the comments during a meeting with US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Stephen Schneck here, according to a post on his official social media handle. "We are striving hard to build religious harmony in the country," Yunus said. On being asked about the activities of the reform commissions and the proposed constitutional changes after last year's uprising that ousted former premier Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime, Yunus said that "any constitutional amendments would uphold religious freedom and minority rights in Bangladesh". "The consensus-building commission is holding dialogue with political parties over the proposed amendments. Minorities will continue to enjoy the same rig

Bangladesh has '2 chicken necks', far more vulnerable, says Himanta Sarma

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma highlights two narrow corridors in Bangladesh, calling them more vulnerable than India's Siliguri corridor amid row over strategic access in the Northeast

Yunus to stay on as interim govt head, says Bangladesh's planning adviser

Muhammad Yunus remains interim leader of Bangladesh amid political unrest, military pressure, and reform deadlock, as parties demand elections and tension rises between cabinet and armed forces

B'desh interim head Yunus calls cabinet meet amid rumours of exit: Report

Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Saturday called an unscheduled meeting of the advisory council to review a brewing unease involving his administration, political parties and the Army, according to media reports. The development comes hours after Yunus expressed his desire to step down as chief adviser, citing difficulties in working amid the failure of political parties to find common ground for change. "He is likely to sit with the Advisers (effectively ministers) shortly after the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) meeting," which is underway as scheduled, the UNB news agency reported, quoting an unnamed official familiar with the process. It did not give any further details. Yunus is expected to meet with the advisers before back-to-back meetings with former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami later on Saturday. According to the chief adviser's press wing, a BNP delegation would mee