A detailed news analysis on Bangladesh’s interim government under Dr Muhammad Yunus, rising political bias allegations, NCP’s growing influence, and election integrity concerns ahead of the February 2025 national polls. Examines neutrality controversies and the evolving political crisis.
As Bangladesh heads into its Jatiya Sangsad election scheduled for February next year, the nation’s political landscape has become increasingly tense. The country’s interim government, led by Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus, is under intensifying scrutiny for what opposition parties claim is its diminishing neutrality—an allegation further inflamed by the recent announcement by advisor Asif Mahmud to contest the upcoming polls.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has already declared 237 candidates for the 300 parliamentary constituencies. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami is yet to formalize its electoral plans as it weighs the possibility of joining a coalition. The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), born out of the July 2024 student uprising, has stated its intent to run in all 300 seats, though it remains open to alliances.
Amid these shifting dynamics, Asif Mahmud, one of three student advisors in the interim government, declared his decision to run for office from a Dhaka seat. Political parties claim this announcement confirms what they have long suspected—the interim government never operated as a neutral administrative body.
Rise of NCP and Early Questions of Neutrality
Controversy surrounding the interim government’s impartiality began almost immediately after the July Uprising of 2024, when student leaders Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Mahfuz Alam were brought on board as advisors. These same youths later established the National Citizen Party on 8 August 2024, raising eyebrows among established political forces.
The interim government’s inclusion of these student leaders—major figures in the uprising—appeared to critics as an ideological alignment between the “student revolutionaries” and the Yunus administration. Matters escalated in February when Nahid Islam resigned as student advisor to officially join the NCP as its convenor. BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other parties condemned the move, warning that the interim administration was enabling the creation of a “King’s Party,” reminiscent of political engineering tactics seen in earlier eras of South Asian politics.
Adding to the controversy, a publicly circulated video from March revealed Mahmud recounting that the Bangladesh Army Chief had expressed reservations about student leaders inviting Yunus to head the interim government. This footage strengthened the opposition’s argument that the rise of the NCP has always been politically intertwined with Yunus’s transitional authority.
Historical Revisionism and the ‘New Bangladesh’ Narrative
The interim government’s actions soon drew sharper criticism. One of its most contentious measures involved institutional steps to dilute or erase the political legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father. These included initiatives to remove Mujib’s title of “Father of the Nation,” revisions to Liberation War narratives, and rhetorical promotion of a “new Bangladesh”—a vision of “real liberation” purportedly achieved on 5 August 2025, the day former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was compelled to leave the country.
These moves were immediately embraced by leaders of the July Uprising and later echoed in early NCP messaging. Opposition parties widely condemned what they described as political revisionism designed to legitimize a new ideological direction rather than ensure an unbiased transition.
Awami League Ban and Increasing Concessions to NCP
The interim government’s responsiveness to NCP demands became even more evident when Awami League (AL) was banned from contesting national elections through a May amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act. International human rights organizations criticized the action as unconstitutional, arguing that restrictions should apply to individuals accused of crimes, not to political parties as a whole.
Yunus’s earlier statements had left AL’s participation “to the party’s own decision,” which made the sudden ban—timed soon after NCP-led protests—appear more aligned with NCP’s agenda than with impartial governance.
Opposition groups argue that the interim administration has spent more time meeting demands from NCP than outlining a clear roadmap toward democratic transition. This perceived bias, they say, undermines the credibility of the upcoming national poll and encourages selective empowerment of NCP-affiliated individuals.
July Charter: A Political Turning Point
Another major flashpoint was the controversial July National Charter. Initially threatened to be announced unilaterally by NCP, the interim government quickly formalized the “July Declaration” on 5 August, providing it with constitutional recognition. NCP hailed it as a historic victory.
The finalized July National Charter released on 17 October incorporated many NCP-backed reform proposals, including 48 constitutional amendments. BNP and other parties protested the exclusion of Bangladesh’s foundational principles—nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism—arguing that the Charter attempted to dismantle the 1972 “Mujibist Constitution.” The opposition also questioned the legality of enforcing such sweeping reforms outside an elected parliamentary process.
Critics stated that the Charter implementation committee included individuals with partisan leanings, particularly Mahmud and Alam, both accused of being aligned with NCP’s political ambitions.
Fresh Allegations as Advisors Delay Resignations
By October, the political temperature had reached a boiling point. BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and several emerging parties demanded the removal of party-affiliated advisors from the interim government. Their core argument: a government charged with ensuring free and fair elections cannot be led by individuals who are preparing to enter electoral politics themselves.
During meetings with the Chief Advisor, political leaders pressed for the resignation of Mahmud and Alam. The government reportedly requested both advisors to step down, but they initially sought additional time.
While Mahfuz Alam has not expressed any desire to run for parliament, Asif Mahmud’s announcement that he will contest the elections—with resignation pending later—has been widely perceived as proof that the interim administration has never operated independently of the NCP’s political trajectory.
Mahmud himself once stated that “advisors who intend to join politics should resign after election announcement… otherwise the election will be questioned.” His own decision now contradicts those words, deepening public distrust.
Election Integrity Under Cloud
With just two months remaining before the national election, the political situation in Bangladesh remains charged and uncertain. Persistent allegations of bias, growing polarization, and the visible role of NCP-affiliated individuals within the interim administration have shaken confidence in the electoral process.
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Analysts warn that unless immediate steps are taken to restore neutrality and transparency, the 13th national elections may be neither inclusive nor credible—raising concerns about Bangladesh’s democratic future.
