100 days of the Yunus Government: Is Bangladesh really back on track?

UPDATED: Nov 25, 2024 18:11 IST

Muhammad Yunus has completed 100 days at the helm as Bangladesh's chief advisor after a revolution displaced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, rising inflation and a growing closeness to Pakistan have raised concern in India about the Yunus government. But others argue that his government has helped stabilise the country and put it on the path to clearing much needed reforms.

Professor Parvez Abbasi joins India Today Global to explain the state of Bangladesh politics and rate the record of the Yunus administration. Abbasi argues that the Yunus government has largely succeeded in improving law and order and appointing commissions to pass much-needed reforms. He also believes that the interim government has also kept a fairly cooperative relationship with the country’s major political parties. However, consistently high inflation is causing considerably economic pain and worker unrest in the country’s important garment sector remain key challenges.

Abbasi also addressed Indian concerns about developments in Bangladesh. On the subject of attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, Abbasi acknowledged that there were reprisals against minority groups after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August. However, he argued that the attacks were more limited than suggested by Indian media reports. He also stated that the interim government is taking steps to restore confidence among minorities. He also addressed the Bangladesh attorney general’s call to remove guarantees of secularism from the constitution.

Abbasi also says that he believes anger against India for its support of Sheikh Hasina’s government has faded considerably. He pointed to the removal of restrictions on hilsa fish exports at the time of Durga Puja and the recent operationalisation of the trilateral power trade deal between India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Abbasi argued that these initiatives proved the interim government’s desire to work with India.