A day after the fall of the Awami League-led government, President Mohammed Shahabuddin controversially dissolved Bangladesh's 12th national parliament under pressure, an action that has been widely c... A day after the fall of the Awami League-led government, President Mohammed Shahabuddin controversially dissolved Bangladesh's 12th national parliament under pressure, an action that has been widely criticized as unconstitutional. The dissolution came after three key student coordinators of the anti-government protest—Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Bakar Majumder—issued an ultimatum, demanding that the parliament be dissolved by 3 p.m. on August 6. The students warned of "strict actions" if their demands were not met. Facing immense pressure from the protest movement, the President moved to dissolve the parliament, but this decision appears to have violated Bangladesh's Constitution. As per ‘Article 57(3)’ of the Constitution, the President is required to act on the advice of the Prime Minister for executive decisions, including the dissolution of parliament. The President may dissolve parliament unilaterally only in extraordinary circumstances, such as during an emergency or after the resignation of the Prime Minister. In this case, since Sheikh Hasina had not formally resigned before leaving for India, the dissolution was executed without her advice, making it a violation of constitutional protocol. Moreover, the irregular circumstances of this dissolution have raised serious concerns. The Speaker's chair remained vacant during the transition, which is an unprecedented and deeply troubling deviation from standard parliamentary procedure. This unusual void sent shockwaves through Bangladesh's political establishment, highlighting the abnormality of the dissolution process. The hasty dissolution reeks of political maneuvering, suggesting that it was not a genuine response to the demands for reform, but rather a calculated move by certain powerful interests to destabilize the government for their own benefit. Such an abrupt dissolution of an elected body undermines the integrity of Bangladesh's democratic institutions and raises red flags about the intentions behind this decision. The ramifications of this dissolution extend far beyond procedural concerns. It threatens to deepen Bangladesh's fragile political instability by creating a dangerous power vacuum and disrupting the continuity of governance. With no parliamentary oversight on crucial decisions, public trust in government institutions is likely to erode even further, potentially igniting more social unrest. Read More

The interim government led by Dr. Yunus, which took power on August 8, 2024, following Sheikh Hasina's exit, was seen by many as a premeditated move to consolidate control across all sectors of Bangla... The interim government led by Dr. Yunus, which took power on August 8, 2024, following Sheikh Hasina's exit, was seen by many as a premeditated move to consolidate control across all sectors of Bangladesh's governance. Even before the official handover strategic reshuffles in the civil administration and law enforcement began, indicating a calculated effort to ensure that key positions were filled with individuals loyal to the new regime. This move has raised significant concerns about the autocratic nature of the interim government. Following the takeover, the judiciary was one of the first institutions to experience a drastic overhaul. Reshuffles in the judicial ranks were swift, marked by the forced resignation of judges considered non-aligned with the new government, and the installation of justices seen as more compliant with the administration’s agenda. These changes have been widely criticized for undermining the independence of the judiciary, casting doubt on the legal system's impartiality, and raising fears about the future of justice in Bangladesh. Chief Justice Resignation: On August 20, 2024, the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, who had presided over several key decisions protecting constitutional processes, was forced to resign. His removal was reportedly due to pressure from the interim government, which viewed his rulings as sympathetic to the previous Awami League government. His replacement, appointed within two days, is widely seen as aligned with the interim government's interests, leading to concerns about impartiality. Attorney General’s Departure: The Attorney General also stepped down on August 22, 2024, amid increasing pressure from the new administration. His resignation followed direct threats of prosecution for his previous defense of government policies under the Awami League. His successor was appointed within days, again without any form of legal review or consultation, indicating the speed with which the government wanted to exert control over the legal apparatus. Resignations in the Justice Bench: Between August 21 and 25, 17 justices from both the High Court and Appellate Division resigned. These resignations represented nearly 25% of the judiciary's top officials. Sources indicate that many of these justices were forced out due to their perceived loyalty to the previous administration or their unwillingness to rule in favor of the new government. Read More

Dr. Yunus's administration has orchestrated a sweeping overhaul of local governance, dismissing 876 elected representatives across Bangladesh in separate gazette notifications on August 18-19. This ma... Dr. Yunus's administration has orchestrated a sweeping overhaul of local governance, dismissing 876 elected representatives across Bangladesh in separate gazette notifications on August 18-19. This major reshuffling involved replacing elected representatives, primarily from the previous Awami League government, with administrators appointed by the interim government.

Widespread Changes Across Local Governments

The judiciary reshuffle has sparked deep concerns about the future of judicial independence in Bangladesh. With many of the newly appointed justices seen as government loyalists, and the judiciary’s review powers curtailed, the courts may no longer act as a meaningful check on executive overreach.
• District Administration: Administrators were installed in 61 districts to replace elected representatives. Of these, divisional commissioners took over district councils in eight divisional cities, while deputy commissioners were appointed to 53 other districts. The office of the Natore district council chairman was left vacant due to the incumbent's death, and the three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts remained unaffected.
• Upazila Administration: The chairmen of all of Bangladesh's 495 Upazila councils have been removed from duty. Upazila executive officers, or UNOs, will take on their responsibilities for the time being.
• Municipal Administration: A total of 323 municipal mayors were ousted, with new administrators appointed across all 330 municipalities to oversee local governance.
• City Corporations: In a dramatic move, all 12 city corporation mayors, including those in Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Chattogram, Khulna, and Rajshahi,
were removed and replaced by administrators. Senior government officials and divisional commissioners were appointed as interim heads of these city corporations. Dr. Yunus’s government has undertaken an unprecedented restructuring of local governance. With 876 elected representatives ousted, Bangladesh now faces an uncertain future in local administration, as calls for quick restoration of electoral democracy gain momentum to maintain public services and local stability. Read More

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has faced significant administrative challenges, resulting in what many describe as a "paralyzing” of the country’s governance. Several ... The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has faced significant administrative challenges, resulting in what many describe as a "paralyzing” of the country’s governance. Several key issues have contributed to this paralysis:

• Massive Reshuffles in Military and Civil Administrations: One of the most destabilizing factors has been the widespread reshuffling and dismissal of key officials. While the Chief of Army Staff remained unchanged, many top positions in the military were reassigned. Notably, several senior officers perceived as aligned with the previous regime were removed or reassigned. Major General Ziaul Ahsan was dismissed from service, while Lieutenant General Md Saiful Alam was moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In total, key positions including Chief of General Staff and Commandant of the National Defence College were filled by new appointees considered more favorable to the interim government. Moreover, since August 8, the interim government has dismissed 33 permanent secretaries, including top officials such as the Inspector General of Police and heads of crucial departments like the Special Branch and Rapid Action Battalion. Additionally, following the events of early August 20, 2024, the Bangladesh police experienced a major reshuffle. On August 7, 2024, the Inspector General of Police, the Rapid Action Battalion's Director General, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner were replaced. Md Mainul Islam became the IGP, and AKM Shahidur Rahman took charge of RAB. Over 32 station chiefs in Dhaka were transferred in a bid to strengthen control under the interim authority. Similarly, the Ansar force faced significant reshuffles, particularly after protests on August 20, 202424 demanding job nationalization and the abolition of certain work conditions. The interim government responded by transferring 19 senior Ansar officials, further contributing to the uncertainty within this paramilitary group. These administrative upheavals have compounded public concerns about the effectiveness of governance during this politically sensitive period. In addition, superintendents of police and other key administrative officers have been reassigned arbitrarily. These actions have sparked concerns about the lack of due process and transparency, as many of these dismissals appeared politically motivated rather than merit-based. Read More

The interim government of Bangladesh has executed a significant diplomatic overhaul, recalling a total of at least 11 diplomatic officials from key international posts who were by the previous Awami L... The interim government of Bangladesh has executed a significant diplomatic overhaul, recalling a total of at least 11 diplomatic officials from key international posts who were by the previous Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina. The envoys, stationed in the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany, UAE, and the Maldives, have been instructed to return to Dhaka immediately. The recalled ambassadors are- In addition to these seven ambassadors, the interim government has recalled two lower-ranking diplomats: First Secretary Wahiduzzaman Noor and Counsellor Arifa Rahman Ruma from Washington, as well as officials from Ottawa and New York. This move appears to be part of a broader strategy of the interim govt to consolidate control over the country's foreign affairs apparatus. Read More