Today’s presidential election in the United States is poised to have significant implications globally, especially for countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh is currently navigating a turbulent political phase following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has sought refuge in India. This change has left the country’s political future in flux, and there is a question about how Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus will cope with a potential shift in the US leadership. The stakes are particularly high given Yunus’s strong ties with the Democratic Party, a relationship that could be strained if Donald Trump – a figure Yunus once referred to as a “solar eclipse” – wins the election.
The political dynamics in Bangladesh are changing rapidly. With Hasina out of the picture, Bangladesh faces geopolitical pressures, especially from Indian backing, which has a vested interest in maintaining influence over Bangladeshi politics. India’s approach involves a careful balancing act – keeping Hasina relevant without directly supporting her within Bangladesh. This strategy aims to retain India’s influence while ensuring that Hasina, operating from behind the scenes, remains a powerful ally. India’s involvement is likely to continue, especially if the Democrats retain the White House.
Dr. Yunus’s long-standing connections with the Democratic Party have positioned him as a preferred candidate in US-Bangladesh relations. While the influence of Dr. Yunus currently strengthens US-Bangladesh relations, this dynamic could shift if Donald Trump were to return to the presidency. Yunus openly criticized Trump’s 2016 victory, likening it to a “solar eclipse…which must not destroy us and suck our spirit”. He remarked that the election had “fallen victim to the wrong type of politics”, urging Trump to embrace a more inclusive vision, one that........