In Bangladesh today, political turbulence has become the rule rather than the exception. Inflation eats away at savings, unemployment haunts the young, and the economy appears, at best, fragile. At such a moment of uncertainty, an unusual report surfaced: nearly 78.7% of Bangladeshis, according to a survey by Innovision Consulting, expressed satisfaction with the interim government of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Conducted between September 2 and 15, 2025, across 64 districts and over 10,000 respondents, the “People’s Election Pulse Survey” paints a picture of overwhelming popular support for an unelected government.

If this survey is to be believed, then Yunus commands a political legitimacy unknown in modern democratic history. What, then, is the purpose of elections? And why should opposition forces demand one, if nearly four out of five citizens stand firmly behind the current arrangement?

Such questions expose the paradox at the heart of Bangladesh’s current crisis. For if Yunus truly enjoys such unparalleled popularity, the clamor for elections should be muted. Yet, the fact that elections are still very much demanded—domestically and internationally—suggests that something about this glowing survey requires careful scrutiny.

The survey was carried out by Innovision Consulting, supported by two civic platforms: Voice for Reform and the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN). On the surface, these appear to be domestic initiatives committed to promoting democratic accountability. But a closer look reveals a far more intricate web of influence.

Shahidul Alam, a photographer and human rights activist, founded Voice for Reform in September 2024. It is reported that this organization is directly connected to the US-funded International Republican Institute (IRI). The IRI has a long record of shaping political narratives abroad, particularly in countries where Washington perceives its interests to be under threat. Its method is not new: enlist intellectuals, journalists, and civil society leaders to promote “democracy,” while in practice aligning political outcomes with American........

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