In a rare public rebuke, Bangladesh’s Army Chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has issued an ultimatum to the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus: hold national elections by December 2025, or face institutional backlash. This declaration marks an inflection point in the fragile civil-military balance of power as Bangladesh attempts to navigate its post-revolution political transition.

The interim government, installed after a mass student-led uprising unseated the long-standing regime of Sheikh Hasina, was widely seen as a neutral caretaker tasked with restoring democratic norms, rewriting problematic constitutional provisions, and preparing for inclusive, fair elections. But delays in the electoral roadmap—driven by calls for constitutional reform, electoral infrastructure upgrades, and diaspora engagement—have drawn cri ...