Bangladesh Autocrat Gone, Democratic Renewal's A Work In Progress

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While the BNP and its former ally, the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, may appeal to segments of Bangladesh's Muslim majority, their support is undermined by reputational baggage and limited resonance with younger voters .

At the same time, radical, right-wing, Islamist forces are exploiting the vacuum to reassert themselves, exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the Hindu minority.

Economically, the country is also still reeling from the damage done under Hasina's regime.

Corruption hollowed out the banking system, leaving key institutions almost bankrupt. Although Yunus has taken steps to stabilise the economy by bringing in competent officials, uncertainty continues to dampen investor confidence.

Inflation remains high. And unless job creation accelerates, especially for the youth, the seeds of further unrest are already planted.

In addition, law and order have deteriorated sharply. The country's police force has been tainted by its association with the Alami League, and the former police chief is facing charges of crimes against humanity.

Street crime is rising and minorities are experiencing growing harassment. Women feel deeply unsafe - both online and on the streets . Some parties are also seen as a threat to countering violence against women.

Despite strong laws on paper, weak law enforcement and victim-blaming are allowing violence to flourish. It's very difficult to hold perpetrators of crimes to account .

Bangladesh is also increasingly isolated on the global stage.

India, long allied to Hasina's government, has turned its back on the interim government. The United States is disengaging , as well. USAID had committed nearly US$1 billion from 2021–26 to help improve the lives of Bangladeshis, but this funding has now been suspended .

Some gains on civil liberties

This year, Bangladesh improved slightly in Freedom House's index on political freedoms and civil liberties, from a score of 40 points out of 100 last year to 45 . This is a step in the right direction.

Among the improvements in the past year, the government has

• removed restrictions on some political parties,
• released political detainees and
• committed to major judicial reforms to increase accountability.

The appointment of new election commissioners and the creation of advisory commissions for judicial and anti-corruption reform also signal an institutional reset in motion.

But gains remain fragile. While politically motivated cases against opposition figures have been dropped, new ones have emerged against former ruling elites. The military's policing role has expanded and harassment of Awami League supporters by protesters persists.

In addition, media freedom remains heavily constrained , with a human rights group reporting the interim government had targeted hundreds of journalists in the past eight months.

In this fractured environment, urgent reforms are needed. But these need to be sustainable, as well. Whether the interim government has the time, authority or support to deliver them remains in doubt. The government also needs to deliver on its promise to hold free and fair elections.

A new party on the rise

The country's politically engaged youth have not been dissuaded by these issues. Rather, they are trying to reshape the political landscape.