'Post-revolution honeymoons don't last long': Hope fades in post-Hasina Bangladesh as reforms stall and extremism rises

One year after Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a dramatic student-led uprising, Bangladesh finds itself in political limbo. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus had promised sweeping reforms and a democratic revival. But instead of stability, the country is grappling with deepening political rifts, rising Islamist influence, human rights concerns, and an uncertain path to elections. As optimism fades, many are beginning to ask whether the revolution has delivered real change or simply replaced one crisis with another.

A fragmented political landscape

The student protesters turned political party aimed to break the dominance of Hasina’s Awami League and the rival BNP. But critics accuse them of siding with the Yunus government to leverage political gain. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned under Hasina, is re-emerging, aligning with the student party and contesting for power on campuses, in courts, and within key state institutions.

No consensus exists on the date of new elections: Yunus prefers April next year, while military officials pushed for December. BNP is demanding a quicker vote. As Washington-based analyst Michael Kugelman notes, “Post-revolution honeymoons often don’t last long.... especially difficult to do as an unelected government without a public mandate.”

Yunus pushes for reforms

Yunus insists elections follow major reforms -- term limits for PM, judiciary reforms, appointing a chief justice, and even a two-tier legislature. But agreement is elusive. While Jamaat wants reform before polls, BNP demands elections now.

“There’s a divide between those that want to see through reforms... and those that feel it's time to wrap things up and focus on elections,” says Kugelman.

Human rights and rising Islamism

Despite ending Hasina-era extrajudicial killings and disappearances, independent institutions haven’t taken root.

“While the interim government has stopped enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions... there has been little progress on lasting security sector reforms,” says Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW’s deputy Asia director.

Minority communities, especially Hindus, report hundreds of attacks over the past year. The government denies charges of targeting Hasina supporters. Islamist factions calling for Sharia and limits on women’s rights are aligning with mainstream parties, threatening to further fracture the political landscape.

Diplomatic pivot and new challenges

Yunus has tilted Bangladesh closer to China; his first official visit was to Beijing in March, securing crucial loans and investments. He also maintains ties with Western powers and the UN, following Bangladesh’s traditional balancing strategy.

But, “The country's biggest challenge may be the Trump factor,” says Kugelman. In January, USAID funding was suspended, forcing Dhaka to look at a transactional US relationship focusing on trade.

(With AP inputs)