• Bangladesh's interim government warns of the need for unity to prevent a return to authoritarianism.
• The government, led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, is facing significant protests from rival parties.
• Upcoming elections are scheduled for June 2026, with calls for polls to occur by December.
• Concerns grow over a potential military-backed government similar to past incidents.
• The caretaker government accuses critics of making unreasonable demands that obstruct its work.

Bangladesh's interim government, emerging after last year's significant political upheaval, has called for **broad unity** to avert a possible return to authoritarianism amid increasing tensions on the streets of Dhaka. The government stated, "Broader unity is essential to maintain national stability, organise free and fair elections, justice, and reform, and permanently prevent the return of authoritarianism in the country," highlighting the critical need for collaboration among political factions to ensure a stable governance environment, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

The government's chief adviser, **Muhammad Yunus**, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has expressed his commitment to facilitate democratic reforms ahead of the elections scheduled for June 2026 at the latest. Yunus pointed out that the government's legitimacy could be jeopardized if the autonomy and reform processes are obstructed, asserting his obligation to act in conjunction with the populace to navigate these challenges, as stated by Channel News Asia and India Times.

Recent protests by rival parties, particularly the **Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)**, have escalated tensions, with calls for elections potentially set for December. Both the BNP and the largest Islamist party, **Jamaat-e-Islami**, have taken to the streets against the interim government, demanding accountability and faster electoral processes, reports SCMP, Channel News Asia, and India Times.

Amid these developments, **Nahid Islam**, a prominent student leader and member of the National Citizen Party, fears a potential return to a military-backed government reminiscent of earlier political crises, particularly recalling the state of emergency declared in 2007. Islam emphasized that the military must ensure national security without overstepping into political matters, as highlighted in statements reported by SCMP and India Times.

The interim government has also criticized the opposition's "unreasonable demands" that they claim obstruct their capacities and operations, positioning itself against such provocations as they work towards ensuring a fair electoral landscape, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.