Bangladesh's Democratic Transition: Revolution and Its Discontents

Abstract

Ten months after a mass uprising toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime, Bangladesh is gearing up for its next general election in April 2026. The interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, wants to carry out substantial reforms but faces challenges due to a fractured political landscape. Bangladesh requires deep institutional reforms to consolidate its democratic foundations. Yunus insists that all major reforms will be consensus-based, but the agenda for this collides with the impending election, posing questions on implementation as well as post-election endurance. Political competition is intensifying, with new parties and coalitions emerging. The major frontrunner, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is eager for early elections. Islamist parties and student leaders are attempting to increase their appeal to their support bases by forming new alliances or parties, respectively. Despite the popular support for key institutional reforms, setbacks to implementation could arise from political disagreements. Concurrently, the government must take initiatives to maintain the public’s backing if it is to deliver meaningful political change.