Marching for Stability or Power? Yunus Supporters to Take Out March For Yunus Rally Today

Yunus Rally Today: Protesters are rallying behind two key demands: “Keep Yunus in power for five years” and “Reforms first, elections later.”

Supporters of Bangladesh’s interim government’s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, have called for a massive protest rally in Dhaka today amid growing speculation that Yunus may step down from his post after a stern warning from Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman to hold elections before December.

His supporters have announced a protest rally called ‘March For Yunus’ at Dhaka’s Shahbagh after the Friday prayers yesterday. Posters calling for public participation have been plastered across the capital city, reflecting increasing political tension.

According to the posters, protesters are rallying behind two key demands: “Keep Yunus in power for five years” and “Reforms first, elections later.” The mobilisation comes in response to recent statements from Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who reiterated his call for national elections to be held by December this year. He stressed that determining the country’s future is the sole prerogative of an elected government.

Such a move would spell the end of Yunus’ tenure as the de facto prime minister. Yunus was appointed to lead the interim government after months of nationwide unrest forced then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign. Hasina subsequently fled to India amidst escalating pressure from the military and civilian demonstrators.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have increased calls for clarity regarding the country’s electoral future. On Tuesday, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned of a “new black shadow” over the nation’s democracy. He accused the interim government of orchestrating a conspiracy to delay elections and undermine the people’s right to vote.

Yunus has attempted to calm tensions, stating that polls will be held between December 2025 and June 2026, depending on the completion of institutional reforms.

The political crisis has its roots in last year’s nationwide student-led movement that began with calls to abolish quotas in civil service recruitment. Initially peaceful, the protests spiralled into violent clashes, resulting in over 300 deaths. The government, led by Sheikh Hasina at the time, faced severe criticism for its handling of the unrest, especially after what is now known as the “July Massacre.”

The popular uprising ultimately toppled Hasina’s government, paving the way for Yunus’s appointment with the military’s backing. Now, with fresh demands emerging, Bangladesh’s political future remains on a knife’s edge.

For more news and updates, visit: Northeast Live

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