Bangladesh Army Chief Urges Yunus to Hold Elections by December
The situation in Bangladesh is becoming tense as the country’s Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, has asked interim leader Muhammad Yunus to make sure national elections happen by December 2025. This is an important moment for Bangladesh, as the country is currently being led by a temporary government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down in August 2024.
At first, General Zaman supported the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. The idea was that the temporary government would bring stability and prepare for elections within 18 months. However, disagreements have started to grow between the military and the interim administration.
General Zaman is unhappy about delays in planning the elections. He also disagrees with some of the interim government’s decisions, like releasing certain political prisoners and trying to open a humanitarian corridor to Myanmar. Zaman believes that these are major policy matters that should be decided by an elected government — not a temporary one.
In a recent speech to army officers, General Zaman made it clear that the military must be consulted on all big decisions. He said the interim government should not make any more major changes on its own. He also rejected the idea of building a humanitarian corridor to Myanmar or allowing foreign countries to control Bangladeshi ports.
The tension has increased because Yunus is believed to support another military leader, Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, who is seen as a rival to Zaman. While General Zaman is known to support friendly ties with India, Faizur Rahman is said to have pro-Pakistan views, which makes the situation more complex.
As the December deadline for elections gets closer, the future of Bangladesh’s democracy remains uncertain. The army is clearly playing a strong role, and it is still unclear how things will turn out. For now, the country waits to see if elections will be held on time and who will lead Bangladesh into its next chapter.
