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Bangladesh has been through a kind of political earthquake for the past 16 years, says Nobel laureate economist and microcredit pioneer Muhammad Yunus. According to him, the long rule of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League government was a kind of dictatorship. They were removed from power in August 2024 through a major mass movement. Now, as the country’s interim head of government, Yunus says, we are rebuilding what was destroyed. We are moving in the right direction, the people are with us.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina, various corruption stories of her government have come to light. A report says that about $16 billion is smuggled out of the country every year. Cases such as murder, kidnapping and genocide are also being filed against her (although she has denied these). All political parties now want a system where no one can amass so much power again.

After Sheikh Hasina left the country, Yunus formed several commissions in September to reform various sectors—such as the electoral system, the judiciary, and the constitutional reform commission. The country’s teachers, researchers, and experts are working on these commissions.

A large commission—the National Consensus Commission—is working on all the recommendations. They have so far taken 166 proposals and 35 political parties in the country have given their opinions on them. This commission is preparing a policy called the ‘July Charter’, which will pave the way for elections and make it possible to build a ‘New Bangladesh’.

However, not everyone agrees. Some say that a separate commission was needed for the ready-made garment sector. Others say that the education sector has been neglected. The most controversial has been the commission working on women’s rights. They have proposed changes to the inheritance law for women, which has brought many to the streets.

Still, many are optimistic. Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the Consensus Commission, said that some good changes have already occurred—such as freedom in the appointment of judges. He hopes that the final policy will be prepared by August.

If all goes well, elections could be held in December. Yunus has assured that elections will definitely be held by June 2026—but he himself will not participate in them. Although commodity prices and the banking sector have come under some control, economic growth is still slow. Politics is still unstable. A survey says that 60 percent of people think that law and order has not improved much. Protests are taking place regularly on the streets.

The main demand of the protesters is the trial of the Awami League. The Election Commission cancelled the party’s registration on May 12, as a result of which they will not be able to participate in any elections now. Although there is public anger about the party, they still have some support. The party’s top leader Mohammad Arafat said, we were elected by the people’s vote, the militants removed us. We will continue to fight to get our place back. Even though it is out of power, the Awami League still influences the country’s politics.

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