Bangladesh’s Reform Dilemma: Insights from its Ongoing Political Transition

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The departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in early August thrust Bangladesh into an uncertain political period, where questions about governance, legal frameworks, and future reforms dominate discussions.

Three months into the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, it is clear that Bangladesh’s political transition faces several complex challenges. The country’s experience offers important lessons about the difficulties of transitioning from long-standing authoritarian rule towards a democratic order, especially when legal, political, and social structures are deeply intertwined.

The Legal Maze of Transition

One of the immediate challenges that Bangladesh faced was the country’s legal framework—or lack thereof—to handle a transition following Hasina’s departure. Under her leadership, constitutional changes had removed formal provisions for a caretaker government to oversee elections, which left a significant procedural gap for establishing an alternative governing mechanism to an elected government when the political landscape so drastically changed.

The lack of clear legal guidelines raised questions about the legitimacy of ad-hoc processes to address the political vacuum as well as the legality of assembling an unelected, interim governing administration. The situation was further complicated by President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s actions when he dissolved the country’s Parliament, which had been formed through the contentious January 2024 elections. He later stated that he never received an official resignation letter from Hasina, raising doubts about Hasina’s political status, and Shahabuddin’s own role in overseeing the transition. This uncertainty fuelled tensions in the country, leading to protests calling for Shahabuddin’s resignation over suspicions of political manipulation.

The unfolding of these events cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the interim government. While acknowledging that the situation in Bangladesh is extraordinary, it is clear that instability can arise when a legal and political system is ill-prepared and there is a lack of a defined succession and governance plan.

Political Tensions and the Legacy of Hasina

Bangladesh’s political landscape is deeply divided, and the question of how to reconcile the legacy of Hasina’s leadership has been a major point of contention. Hasina’s government, particularly its authoritarian tendencies, left many with a complex and often hostile view of her tenure. Hasina’s Awami League party, while weakened and facing growing stigma and scrutiny, remains a presence in the country’s politics. While some have called for the party to be banned, others, including even staunch opponents of the League, have argued that such a move should be left to the people, not political leaders, to decide. Despite stating that ‘no fascist party should exist in a democratic system’ in reference to Awami League, Yunus has adopted a cautious stance, suggesting that any decision to ban the party should be based on broad political consensus.

Moreover, the collapse of Hasina’s authoritarian regime has created new opportunities, with both long-standing and reemergent political forces competing for influence and seeking also to redefine the nation’s future. One example is the reassertion of Islamist parties and groups that have alternative, and at times radically different and hard-line, visions for the creation of an Islamic Bangladesh. The fall of Hasina has opened greater political space for their operation and activities. While the assertion of far-right groups is  a  concerning development for many, it demonstrates that balancing competing ideologies is a pertinent challenge for the interim government as many of these Islamist groups share common grievances and the experience of persecution under Hasina’s rule.

The Reform Dilemma

One of the most significant aspects of Bangladesh’s transition has been Yunus’ focus on reform. ‘The trouble is’, as one observer notes, ‘Hasina’s political DNA is found in every corner of the Bangladeshi state she left behind.’ Recognising the broken state of public administration, Yunus has prioritised constitutional amendments and the establishment of reform commissions to address key governance sectors, including the judiciary, election system, the police, and anti-corruption measures. However, Yunus’ push for reforms has not been without its critics. The reform commissions, despite broad public support for fixing ‘the system’, have come under scrutiny for their lack of diversity and inclusivity. The Bengali Muslim-male-dominated commissions, while addressing critical issues, fail to reflect the country’s demographic composition, raising concerns about their representation as well as issues of transparency.

In Bangladesh, inclusivity is a critical issue, as the student movement that ousted Hasina was rooted in opposition to her regime’s discriminatory practices. Under Hasina’s leadership, the government favoured party loyalists while punishing, excluding, or neglecting others. Reform efforts that alienate key sections of the population risk undermining the legitimacy of the entire process.

Some Things We’ve Learned

Bangladesh’s political transition serves as a critical case study of the difficulties in moving from authoritarian rule to democracy. The challenges faced by the Yunus-led interim government—ranging from legal uncertainty to managing deeply entrenched political divisions —offer important lessons for other countries in similar transitions. In the end, the transition process is messy, uncertain, and fraught with obstacles, but it also offers an opportunity to reshape the future. Whether Bangladesh seizes this moment depends on how well it can manage the difficult balancing act between reform, inclusion, and stability.

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Imran Ahmed is a research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. He holds a PhD from the University of New England. Imran has published in leading politics and Asian studies journals, including South Asia and Third World Quarterly, and co-edited the volume Religion, Extremism and Violence (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).