The international publication The Economist has identified three significant challenges awaiting Dr Muhammad Yunus, who has been appointed as the Chief Adviser to the interim government following Sheikh Hasina's ouster amid nationwide protests.
According to The Economist, the first challenge Yunus faces is restoring constitutional order in a country left in political disarray. With Sheikh Hasina's sudden departure, a power vacuum has emerged. Her Awami League (AL) party has lost credibility, and although Khaleda Zia, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been released from jail, her age and health issues, coupled with the AL's campaign against her party, have left the BNP in a weakened state.
The second challenge is revamping Bangladesh's political landscape. The authoritarian nature of the previous government under Sheikh Hasina prevented the rise of new, more liberal forces. With the growing influence of Islamist parties, the task of political reform is more urgent. Yunus will need to work on more than just organizing new elections; he must also repair the country's democratic institutions and curb the political influence in universities, which have long been hotbeds of unrest.
The third and perhaps most complex challenge for Yunus is navigating Bangladesh's geopolitical landscape. India, Bangladesh's largest neighbor, has close historical ties to the Awami League and had strengthened its relationship with Sheikh Hasina's government to counter China's influence in the region. With the political shift, India now faces a hostile Bangladeshi public and the challenge of protecting its nationals and the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, China, which had become Bangladesh's largest trading partner and a significant source of military technology under Sheikh Hasina, may now be more inclined to deepen its ties with Bangladesh's interim government.
In the face of these challenges, Yunus must prioritise restoring peace, rebuilding Bangladesh's political institutions, and balancing the complex relationships with global powers like India, China, and the West. The success of his interim government will depend on his ability to navigate these internal and external pressures effectively.
