Bangladesh Interim Leader Yunus Holds Crisis Talks with BNP, Jamaat Amid Election Pressure

Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, is facing intense pressure from political parties and the military to hold national elections amid ongoing political turmoil following a mass uprising last year. Yunus had reportedly considered resigning due to difficulties in navigating the political deadlock, but he ultimately decided to remain in office after consultations with his advisory council and urging from allies. He has scheduled meetings with leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, the two influential parties pushing for early elections, with the BNP demanding polls by December. Yunus has emphasized the need to implement democratic reforms before elections and suggested that delaying polls until June could allow more time for these changes. The political situation remains volatile, with BNP accusing Yunus's administration of deliberately delaying elections and widespread protests continuing in Dhaka. Yunus calls for full support from rival parties to ensure a stable transition toward democratic elections.