Bangladesh experienced a major political upheaval in mid-2024, when mass protests and state-directed violence led to the fall of long-standing ruler Sheikh Hasina. The last three elections were widely seen as not free and fair, with the 2024 vote marked by opposition boycott and artificial competition. An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge.
Public frustration was intensified by rising prices, high inflation, falling foreign reserves, monetary volatility and widening budget deficits. The economic situation contributed to the momentum of the protests and the escalation of the crisis. Since the end of the Hasina government, the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have announced financial assistance.
The interim government introduced constitutional and governance reforms through several commissions and opened consensus-building discussions. It faces criticism over lapses in law and order and repeatedly stated that the next elections would take place between December 2025 and June 2026.
