Bangladesh's interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, is reportedly considering stepping down from his post as political stalemate continues to paralyse the country’s governance. According to a late-night report by BBC Bangla on Thursday, Yunus expressed his growing frustration over the lack of consensus among political parties, which he believes has rendered him ineffective in fulfilling his role.
National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nhid Islam, who met Yunus earlier in the day, confirmed the development. “We have been hearing about sir’s resignation since this morning, so I went to meet him to discuss it. He told me he is thinking about it. He feels the current situation is such that he cannot continue working,” Islam told BBC Bangla.
Yunus, who rose to power following last year’s mass student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, has faced increasing pressure in recent days. Despite being backed by the protest movement and key segments of the military, Yunus now finds himself caught in a web of political inertia. “He said unless the political parties can reach a common ground, he will not be able to work,” Islam explained.
Islam, who emerged as a prominent figure under Yunus’s informal mentorship, urged the Chief Adviser to hold his ground. “I told him to stay strong—for the country’s security, its future, and to honour the hopes raised by the mass uprising,” he said, adding that he remains optimistic about a breakthrough in political negotiations. “I hope everyone will come together and support him.”
However, Islam also conceded that Yunus’s continuation in office hinges on political goodwill. “If the political party wants him to resign now... Why will he stay if he does not get that place of trust, that place of assurance?”
The Yunus-led government has come under increasing strain over the past two days, especially as tensions with Bangladesh’s powerful military apparatus have become apparent. Although the military had avoided cracking down on last year’s protests and even facilitated Sheikh Hasina’s safe exit to India via an air force plane, its current stance appears noncommittal.
