Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has courted US President Donald Trump, branding him a “dealmaker” and inviting him to Bangladesh to bolster economic ties, even as Trump’s policies inflict pain on the country.
In an interview with The Guardian’s Hannah Ellis-Petersen, Yunus urged Trump to view Bangladesh as a strategic partner, stating, “Come, do deals with us.” He acknowledged that a rejection could hurt Bangladesh but vowed, “This democratic process will not stop.”
Yunus’ outreach comes amid strained US-Bangladesh relations under Trump, who has slashed USAID funding—critical for development projects—and baselessly accused Bangladesh of misusing aid to elect a “radical left communist.” Over $1 billion in pledged assistance has been jeopardized, dealing a blow to Yunus’s efforts to stabilise the economy.
To counter this, Yunus is leveraging Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk, inviting the billionaire to launch Starlink’s satellite internet in Bangladesh.
A Musk visit, anticipated in April, is seen as a strategic move to win favour with the Trump administration while modernizing Bangladesh’s infrastructure.
Yunus’s plea for US engagement unfolds against Bangladesh’s turbulent backdrop. Since assuming power in August 2024, he has grappled with the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year autocracy, marked by systemic corruption, repression, and a shattered economy. Over 1,400 protesters were killed in the uprising that ousted Hasina, leaving institutions in disarray and trust in governance eroded.
Yunus faces mounting domestic pressures:
Security Vacuum: Police, stripped of Hasina’s patronage, resist returning to posts, fuelling gang violence and minority-targeted harassment.
Islamist Resurgence: Banned groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizb ut-Tahrir, suppressed under Hasina, are reasserting influence, staging violent rallies and targeting progressive initiatives.
Economic Collapse: Banks looted under Hasina’s rule face insolvency, with $17 billion stolen by her allies, including UK MP Tulip Siddiq. Recovery efforts lag, deepening public discontent.
Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman recently warned of “anarchy,” hinting at military unease with Yunus’s governance. Meanwhile, opposition parties like the BNP demand immediate elections, challenging Yunus’s interim legitimacy.
Despite these hurdles, Yunus remains resolute. He aims to hold free elections by March 2026, framing Bangladesh’s transition as a fight to reclaim sovereignty from Hasina’s “family of bandits.” Yet, with Trump’s indifference and domestic instability, Yunus’ promise of democracy hinges on navigating a labyrinth of external and internal threats.
As Yunus courts global allies, Bangladesh’s path to renewal remains fraught—a nation torn between hope and the ghosts of its past.