Not interested to be part of next elected govt: Muhammad Yunus

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has firmly stated that he has no intention of remaining in power after the national elections scheduled for April 2026. Addressing the media in London on Wednesday, Yunus emphasized that the caretaker government’s primary responsibility is to ensure a smooth and well-managed transition to an elected administration.

Bangladesh has been experiencing political uncertainty since August 2024, when a student-led movement led to the ousting of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the wake of this upheaval, Yunus was appointed to lead the interim government tasked with stabilizing the country and preparing it for democratic elections.

During his official four-day visit to the United Kingdom, which began on Tuesday, Dr. Yunus is expected to meet key political figures, including Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The meeting is scheduled for Friday at the hotel where Yunus is staying, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed the planned meeting, stating, “The chief adviser has invited our acting chairman…The meeting will be held at the hotel where Yunus is staying.” He also expressed hope that this meeting could have significant implications for Bangladesh’s political landscape, especially with national elections approaching.

Tarique Rahman, 59, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and has been living in London since 2008 after being sentenced in absentia during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. Those convictions have since been overturned, and Rahman is widely expected to return to Bangladesh to lead the BNP in the upcoming elections.

Earlier on Wednesday, UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell met with Professor Yunus at his hotel. While this meeting reflects ongoing international engagement with Bangladesh’s political transition, no meeting has yet been scheduled between Yunus and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to a report by Prothom Alo, one of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers.

As Bangladesh navigates this critical political phase, all eyes remain on how the caretaker government will steer the country toward a stable and democratic future.