Analyst predicts a significant role for Bangladesh's military in interim govt: Video
As Bangladesh prepares for an interim government led by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, one pressing question arises: how long can it endure without military interference?
The country currently is "enjoying" some peace and calmness it has been deprived of for the past 15 years under the ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
This comes after the military chief of Bangladesh, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the resignation of the former PM who fled the country on Monday, August 5.
Despite the resolution of protesters to have no other government apart from the one they approve of, analysts believe the military will play a 'major role' in the new government behind the scenes.
"The role of the military is very unclear and it does appear that the military leadership will have a major role in overseeing, managing this interim setup, even if it's not formally heading it," the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre, Michael Kugelman said.
Michael explained that the prospect of a long-term interim government in Bangladesh raises concerns among citizens, who perceive the military as more politically inclined than before.
"Many in Bangladesh will worry that if you have a long-term interim government, that gives the military more of an opportunity to gain a foothold and try to have more influence over politics. Though, I would argue that Bangladesh's army today appears much less inclined to play an activist and central role in politics, compared to how it used to be several decades back," he added.
