Dhaka
Bangladesh is facing its most serious crisis in over a decade, the Awami League said on Tuesday, blaming Islamist militancy, economic collapse, high unemployment, lawlessness, and widespread unrest under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
In a report titled “Bangladesh’s Crisis Deepens in 2025: A Nation in Decline,” the party said the military-backed interim government that replaced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 has failed to stabilise the country, leaving the economy, security, and democracy in sharp decline.
The Awami League highlighted rising Islamist militancy and extremism, reporting at least 15 Islamist attacks since October 2024 and thousands of youth being radicalised online. At least 40 incidents of extremist violence against minorities occurred in the first half of 2025, including vandalism of Hindu temples and Christian institutions. Police often failed to act, with investigations and prosecutions rare, allowing extremists to act freely.
The report also flagged a surge in violence against women. Official records show over 4,200 cases of rape and sexual assault, including 650 gang rapes, in the first six months of 2025, up from 3,100 cases in the same period in 2024. Many cases go unreported due to fear or distrust of authorities.
Economically, Bangladesh is in steep decline. GDP growth fell from 6.1 percent in 2023 to 2.3 percent in 2025, inflation exceeds 12 percent, and foreign reserves dropped from $33 billion in 2022 to $14.5 billion in July 2025. Youth unemployment stands at 28 percent, remittances fell 11 percent, and over two million garment workers risk layoffs.
The Awami League called for free, fair, and inclusive national elections under a neutral caretaker arrangement, warning that biased governance under the Yunus regime risks deepening lawlessness and social unrest.
