Dhaka, Feb 19 (NationPress) Business confidence has notably declined, industrial production has decreased, and there have been no significant new initiatives or substantial domestic or foreign investments in Bangladesh under the stewardship of Muhammad Yunus, who assumed the role of Chief Advisor of the interim government during a critical phase after the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fell in August 2024, as highlighted in a report.

According to well-known economist and former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Professor Abdul Bayes, the populace had hoped for an economic rebound under Yunus. Nonetheless, most economic indicators have reportedly shown a downward trend, with the exception of remittance inflows and foreign exchange reserves.

"Business confidence has weakened, industrial production has slowed, and there were no significant new initiatives or major domestic or foreign investments. Meanwhile, unemployment and poverty have increased. According to estimates from the World Bank, nearly three million individuals fell into poverty during his tenure," stated a report from Bangladesh's prominent newspaper, Daily Sun.

Yunus, renowned for his vision of “sending poverty to the museum,” had the opportunity to mitigate poverty in the nation during his time as Chief Advisor. However, he failed to capitalize on this opportunity, with an additional 30 lakh people reportedly plunging into poverty during his administration.

Citing experts, the newspaper noted a significant reduction in private sector investment during Yunus's leadership. In June 2024, private sector investment accounted for 24 percent of GDP, but this figure dropped to 22.48 percent by June 2025, indicating a decline of nearly 1.5 percentage points in just one year. Public investment reached its lowest point in a decade, with the implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) between July and November only reaching 11.5 percent.

Earlier this month, a prominent US-based rights organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW), emphasized in its 2026 World Report that Yunus has also struggled to uphold law and order and deliver on anticipated human rights reforms in Bangladesh.

The HRW reported that the interim government arbitrarily detained thousands of perceived political adversaries and, in May, imposed a ban on the Awami League.

It also mentioned that the interim government opted to prosecute the most serious offenses allegedly committed during the Awami League’s administration at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), a domestic court previously utilized for prosecuting crimes under international law during the country’s 1971 war of independence.

In November of the previous year, the ICT sentenced Hasina, along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death following trials in absentia for crimes against humanity. A former police chief, currently in custody, testified for the prosecution and received a five-year prison sentence.

“The tribunal has been plagued with violations of fair trial standards, and while the interim government amended the law establishing the court, introducing some enhancements, it still lacks essential due process protections and includes the death penalty, contravening international human rights law. Additionally, the interim government granted the tribunal extensive powers to prosecute and dismantle political organizations,” stated the HRW.

According to this rights organization, one of the foremost challenges encountered by the interim government was a troubling increase in mob violence perpetrated by political parties and other non-state actors, including religious extremists opposed to women’s rights and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.