Sun Dec 21 10:08:47 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:
Summary:
A report published in “The Hindu” on December 21, 2025, analyzes the political situation in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in July 2024. Despite a student uprising that sparked the change, the interim government under Muhammad Yunus is proving hesitant to hold truly free and fair elections. The Awami League is barred from participating, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is discredited. The student-led National Citizen Party and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami are wielding significant influence, creating instability. Concerns are rising about the future of the constitution and the increase in attacks on religious minorities. An e-book titled “Bangladesh: ahead of elections 2026” delves into these issues, including the student movement, relations with India, and the prospects for a legitimate elected government.
News Article:
Bangladesh’s Democratic Transition Stalled: “The Hindu” Report Paints Grim Picture Ahead of 2026 Elections
DHAKA, BANGLADESH – December 21, 2025 – More than a year after a student uprising ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh remains mired in political uncertainty with little prospect of a swift return to democratic rule, according to a report published today in “The Hindu.”
The report highlights the hesitancy of the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, to hold free and fair elections, currently slated for February 2026. Key political players, including the Awami League, are barred from contesting, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the process.
“A hostage to unelected pressure groups,” Yunus is seen as providing a smokescreen of elections while failing to tackle a worrying power vacuum.
The void has been filled, in part, by the student-led National Citizen Party and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, whose influence is exacerbating political instability and raising concerns about the direction of the country. Chatter about burying the Constitution worsens the political uncertainty and does not inspire confidence about a democratic transition.
Adding to the crisis, attacks on religious minorities have reportedly increased in the post-Hasina era.
“The Hindu” report coincides with the release of an e-book, ‘Bangladesh: ahead of elections 2026’, which examines the ongoing political crisis in detail. The book analyzes the roots of the student movement, the strained relationship with India over river water sharing, and the obstacles to establishing a genuinely representative government.
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