Bangladesh’s political landscape is once again in the global spotlight as Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus prepares to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday, September 26, 2025. Taking the podium as the 10th speaker of the day, Yunus is expected to present a sweeping overview of his interim government's reform efforts, the nation’s turbulent transition, and the mounting diplomatic tensions with neighboring India.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Yunus will use his UNGA speech to highlight the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government since it assumed office on August 8, 2024, following the end of a 15-year rule by the Awami League. The transition was anything but ordinary—sparked by a mass student-led uprising in July 2024, which ultimately forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out of power. The aftermath has been a period of intense political recalibration, as the new administration strives to convince both domestic and international audiences of its commitment to democracy.
Yunus’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, outlined the anticipated themes of the address, noting, "The main message is that a fundamental election is going to be held within the 15th of February (next year). It will be a free, fair, peaceful, credible and festive one." Alam emphasized that Yunus would inform world leaders about the interim government’s reforms over the past 14 months and the country’s ongoing economic recovery. The government’s stated goal: a “democratic transition” culminating in credible general elections before Ramadan in February 2026.
This message comes at a delicate moment for Bangladesh. The interim administration has finalized state reform proposals after extensive discussions with political parties and has been working closely with the Election Commission to ensure the 13th general elections are conducted smoothly. Yunus’s previous address to the United Nations, back in September 2024, called for a "new way" of international engagement with what he described as a "new Bangladesh"—one shaped by the aspirations of the July uprising and the promise of reform.
Yet, the path to these elections is riddled with skepticism and strife. Political uncertainty and conflict have been escalating, with opposition figures openly questioning the legitimacy of the interim government and the electoral process it seeks to oversee. On Thursday, September 25, suspended Bangladesh National Party (BNP) leader Fazlur Rahman voiced his doubts in an interview with Jugantor, stating, "I do not believe 90 percent that there will be an election in February. Although my party believes it. I do not think that there will be an election in February. And I do not want any election to be held under the Yunus government." Rahman went further, alleging that any election conducted by the current administration would be rigged in favor of the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, drawing a controversial comparison to previous student union elections at Dhaka University.
Rahman insisted, "I don't want any elections under Yunus. There will be a caretaker government for three months. There will be fair elections under that government." These remarks reflect a broader climate of mistrust, with opposition leaders warning that the dice have already been loaded in favor of certain factions, and that only a neutral caretaker government could guarantee fairness.
The BNP’s Selima Rahman added another layer to the narrative, accusing groups defeated in Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War of attempting to derail the elections by pushing for a Proportional Representation (PR) system through street protests. She specifically targeted Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing them of trying to create instability and undermine the country’s "hard-won democratic achievements." In her words, "Jamaat—those who once killed people of this country, who betrayed the nation by siding with Pakistan, who acted as Razakars and Al-Badr, who raped women and handed them over to the occupation forces—today they may appear holy in their words, but they have not forgotten their past ideology." The parties that once joined Yunus in toppling the Awami League are now, ironically, at odds over how best to move forward with reforms.
Amid this internal turbulence, Bangladesh’s foreign relations are also under strain—most notably with India. On the sidelines of the UNGA, Yunus did not mince words, directly blaming India for the recent chill in bilateral ties. As reported by NDTV and India.com, Yunus said, "We have problems with India right now because they did not like what the students have done," referring to the protests that ousted Hasina. He further accused India of exacerbating tensions by hosting Hasina, who remains in self-exile in New Delhi, and by failing to respond to Bangladesh’s extradition requests.
Yunus also criticized Indian media, alleging, "A lot of fake news is coming from India—propaganda that it’s an Islamist movement," in reference to coverage suggesting the new Bangladeshi administration is driven by radical elements. He dismissed accusations from New Delhi that his government is turning a blind eye to the repression of minorities and allowing radicals more space, calling such concerns "exaggerated." The interim government, meanwhile, has filed multiple criminal cases against Hasina and senior Awami League figures, a move that has prompted concern from international human rights organizations about the legitimacy and motivation behind these charges.
Perhaps most tellingly, Yunus pointed to broader regional implications, blaming India for the paralysis of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). "SAARC is not working because it doesn’t fit into the politics of one country," Yunus asserted, signaling frustration over the breakdown of multilateral cooperation in South Asia.
For its part, India has remained officially silent on the extradition issue, but has leveled its own criticisms at the new Bangladeshi administration. New Delhi has accused the interim government of allowing the repression of minorities and giving radical groups more leeway. Former Prime Minister Hasina, meanwhile, maintains that she never resigned and has called on her supporters to continue their political struggle from abroad.
This diplomatic standoff marks a sharp departure from the close ties that characterized the Hasina era, when Bangladesh and India worked closely on security, trade, and regional development. The current tensions raise pressing questions about the future of cooperation in South Asia, especially as both countries grapple with their own internal challenges.
As Yunus steps onto the world stage at the UNGA, the stakes for Bangladesh could hardly be higher. The interim government is under intense scrutiny—at home and abroad—to deliver on its promises of reform and credible elections, all while navigating a minefield of political rivalries and regional distrust. The coming months will reveal whether Yunus’s assurances can win over skeptics and whether Bangladesh’s fragile democracy can weather this moment of historic transition.
