China and Pakistan support Yunus’s governance and election postponement to undermine India and further their strategic interests in Bangladesh. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and erstwhile saviour of Bangladesh’s poor, is now a central figure in an international geopolitical struggle. Named chief adviser to Bangladesh’s caretaker government after Sheikh Hasina’s sudden departure in August 2024, Yunus has since evolved from a world-feted development icon to a technocratic megalomaniac.
As the prime adviser, Yunus is in effect the head of the government of Bangladesh with powers similar to those of the prime minister, albeit theoretically limited. Constitutionally, Yunus’s chief duty is to conduct parliamentary elections in Bangladesh in order to bring back an elected government. But Yunus has no intention of giving up control of power.
His words suggest Yunus is not likely to conduct a parliamentary election in Bangladesh anytime shortly. He has made hints of it being held in 2026. He is taking this opportunity to make important bilateral tours to Pakistan and China, two nations extremely interested in geopolitical benefits in Bangladesh, a nation sitting atop the important Bay of Bengal basin.
Interestingly enough, my most vocal supporters are China and Pakistan. Neither of these nations is known for its democratic values. Both have held similar reasons, both strategic and ideological. Both of these nations view Yunus’s long-time grip on power and the ad infinitum postponement of elections as serving each of their regional agendas—primarily to check India’s influence, spread authoritarian rule and support Islamist political forces in Bangladesh.
