Mohammad Yunus, the chief advisor for Bangladesh's interim government, has once again addressed issues concerning India and former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Accusing statements made by Sheikh Hasina from her stay in India of causing unrest in Bangladesh, Yunus said PM Modi dismissed these concerns as mere social media discussions. The remarks were made during an interactive session held at Chatham House in London.
Yunus stated, “On August 5, the government disappeared from Bangladesh, escalating the anger. The anger then shifted to India when she [Sheikh Hasina] went there. The problem is when I had the chance to speak with Prime Minister Modi, I merely suggested, if you wish to host her, it's your prerogative, I won't compel you to abandon that policy. But kindly assist us in ensuring she doesn't address Bangladeshi citizens in her current manner.”
Yunus claimed that the declarations by Sheikh Hasina were infuriating Bangladesh and questioned why she was stirring such unrest. According to Yunus, Prime Minister Modi responded by saying, “This is social media, and it cannot be controlled.” The Bangladeshi leader remarked, “What else can I say? It's a volatile situation, and labeling it as a social media problem doesn’t suffice.”
A few days ago, Muhammad Yunus unveiled the timeline for the next national elections. Scheduled between April 1 and 15, 2026, Yunus disclosed significant plans in his address on Eid-Ul-Adha’s eve, promising a detailed road map from the election commission soon. “The interim government was established with three core objectives: reform, justice, and elections,” Yunus emphasized.
The government, under Yunus, claims to have consulted with all political factions aiming to make the forthcoming elections ‘the freest, fairest, most competitive, and widely acceptable in the country’s history.' The goal is to honor the fallen heroes’ spirits and be cemented in the nation’s memory for integrity and fairness. His announcement put to rest the months of speculation and political tension regarding the election timing. Yunus had previously suggested elections could occur between December 2025 and June 2026, depending on the rate of reforms.
In 2024, Bangladesh plunged into political turmoil. Nationwide protests surged against the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, objecting to its quota system, and resulted in her fleeing the country on August 5, 2024. Sheikh Hasina now resides in exile in India, and three days following her departure, Muhammad Yunus spearheaded the formation of an interim government in Bangladesh. Previously, India advocated for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh and expressed concerns over banning Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League by its neighboring country.
