Dhaka: As Bangladesh gears up for next year’s crucial elections, a fresh political storm is brewing, with hardline Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami firmly rejecting polls under a restored caretaker government system.
The move has intensified fears of renewed instability, with some whispers of potential civil unrest under interim leader Muhammad Yunus.
On Tuesday, Jamaat’s lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir told reporters outside the Supreme Court’s appellate division that even if the court revives the caretaker setup — scrapped in 2011 — elections remain unfeasible. “Parliament was dissolved over a year ago, and an interim government is already in charge,” Monir argued during the ongoing hearing on appeals to reinstate the neutral administration for fair polls. He stressed that any verdict must align with July’s reform proposals to ensure credibility.
This stance comes amid growing rifts among former allies who toppled Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged Yunus’ administration to function like a caretaker body, emphasising the need for “free, fair, and acceptable” elections. In a recent media briefing, BNP leaders called for urgent steps to break the deadlock.
Analysts warn that clashing reform agendas could plunge the nation into deeper chaos, echoing the violent protests that ousted Hasina. With uncertainty looming, all eyes are on the Supreme Court’s decision, which could either stabilise or ignite fresh turmoil in this South Asian democracy.