The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, is facing mounting political pressure that has forced it to ask two student advisors to resign, highlighting the delicate balancing act of an administration caught between revolutionary roots and political realities. Mahfuj Alam, Information and Broadcasting Adviser, and Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuyian, Local Government Adviser, were once hailed as the “brains” of the July–August student uprising that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. However, their perceived alignment with the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by former student leader Nahid Islam, has drawn fierce opposition from the principal opposition parties—the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami.
The NCP, a student-led offshoot born from anti-quota agitation, has been steadily gaining influence. Yunus, whose interim government is tasked with overseeing the February 2026 elections, now faces the challenge of maintaining neutrality while managing advisors with strong political affiliations. The resignation requests underscore the pressure Yunus is under to balance revolutionary credentials with impartial governance, as both Alam and Mahmud were previously key figures in the movement that ousted Hasina and were later elevated to the 23-member advisory council.
Political friction has been intensifying in recent weeks. BNP leaders met Yunus in October to demand the removal of “controversial” advisors, citing partisan bias. A day later, a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation echoed these concerns, warning that certain advisors might be steering Yunus toward favoring a particular party. While Jamaat stopped short of demanding immediate resignations, it emphasized the need for caution, suggesting that any failure to act could prompt further moves against the advisors.
Both Alam and Mahmud reportedly requested time to consider their exits, aware that stepping down could embolden political adversaries. This is not the first resignation of a student leader from Yunus’ council—Nahid Islam had quit in February to lead the NCP, demonstrating the friction between student activism and political ambition. Sources close to the council suggested that balancing representation and managing perceptions of impartiality remain top priorities for Yunus, as the administration faces scrutiny over its commitment to neutrality.
The resignations also illuminate broader tensions within Bangladesh’s political landscape. Advisors once celebrated as revolutionary figures are now viewed through the prism of party politics, with their affiliations potentially undermining the interim government’s credibility. For the Yunus administration, which aims to oversee a smooth transition to elections in February 2026, the challenge lies in projecting fairness while managing internal dynamics and external pressure from opposition parties. What began as a symbol of youth-led reform has now been entangled in political calculation, reflecting the complexities of navigating governance in a post-uprising Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh edges closer to elections, the Yunus government’s handling of these resignations will likely set a precedent for how student-led movements are integrated—or sidelined—within formal political structures. The departure of Alam and Mahmud signals not only a compromise with opposition demands but also the shifting priorities of an interim government seeking legitimacy in the eyes of both the electorate and rival parties. The episode underscores the tenuous balance between revolutionary fervor and pragmatic governance, as Yunus attempts to maintain authority while appeasing diverse political stakeholders.
