Bangladesh’s mirror moment: As Muhammad Yunus’s term ends, how will history judge the interim leader? | World News

Dhaka: Bangladesh is going through an unprecedented political period. When Nobel laureate Mohammed Younis took office as interim leader in August 2024, the country was reeling from a bloody uprising that toppled longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina and left more than 1,400 dead. Its mission was to stabilize the country, ensure credible elections, and lay the groundwork for reforms to prevent a return to so-called authoritarian rule.

His appointment was not just about politics but also about moral authority at a time when Bangladesh was on the brink. The student leaders leading the uprising were looking for someone acceptable to all factions, someone with a global reputation who could reassure investors while managing a fragile domestic situation. Initially reluctant, Yunus dutifully accepted the role and entered the eye of the storm.

Analysts said the goal of balancing power across institutions was “ambitious” and faced resistance from powerful political and bureaucratic forces. Many observers argued that limited support from political parties and officials constrained his ability to implement deeper structural changes.

Yunus’s supporters, especially the student leaders who fueled the uprising, emphasized his international reputation as an economist and his domestic record as a civil society leader. They saw him as a person who could be accepted by all parties in a crisis and who could provide a solution to the country’s institutional collapse while giving confidence to global investors and partners.

Although initially reluctant, he accepted the role and entered the eye of the storm. Political experts said that although the interim government faced internal resistance, including reservations within the military, its leadership during this period provided moral authority.

During his 18-month tenure, he led the interim government of Bangladesh as chief advisor. Operating without an elected parliament, the administration created commissions of inquiry to investigate alleged abuses under Hasina’s rule, documenting extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and detentions of dissidents. The judiciary, long criticized for its systemic repression, has initiated prosecutions against politicians, military officers and security personnel allegedly involved in these alleged abuses.

One of Yunus’ most notable interventions was against enforced disappearances and secret detentions. The Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances confirmed more than 1,500 cases and identified hundreds of missing or deceased persons, many linked to the police, paramilitary units and intelligence agencies.

Experts noted that despite institutional resistance, Yunus openly confronted these problems and visited questionable detention centers.

The interim government also cooperated with the United Nations Human Rights Office, which confirmed that security personnel used excessive force during the 2024 uprising, adding international weight to the investigation’s findings.

Political analysts have observed that bureaucratic “reforms” face structural limitations. While Yunus attempted to confront entrenched administrative power, his non-election limited the pace and scope of reforms. However, although household-level distress, unemployment and stagnant wages remain problems, his government has managed to stabilize key macroeconomic indicators.

In an unprecedented move, he tied major reform plans to the Feb. 12 election and allowed voters to approve them in a nationwide referendum. Supporters said the reforms were needed to replace courts, security forces and other systems that allegedly allowed past abuses. They added that this process would give legitimacy to the changes.

However, political parties in Bangladesh are divided over Yunus’ legacy. While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acknowledged its role in stabilizing the country, it questioned the authority of an unelected government to implement far-reaching reforms.

Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami have stressed the need for deeper institutional changes before elections are held.

There is a mixture of respect and disappointment among student leaders and citizens who support Yunus. While many described the constraints he faced at home, many praised his global achievements and efforts to secure justice for the victims of the 2024 uprising.

His legacy remains a matter of debate even as Bangladesh approaches the February 12 elections. Analysts have suggested that his role in stabilizing the country and initiating reforms, even during his temporary tenure, will be a defining chapter in the country’s political history.