IRI report shows 70% people satisfied with interim govt, mirroring Hasina’s 2023 rating
80% of respondents expressed optimism that the elections will be free and fair
A nationwide survey conducted by the International Republican Institute's (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research shows that around 70% of Bangladeshis are satisfied with the performance of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
According to the IRI report, more than two-thirds of respondents (69%) said Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is doing a good job, while 70% expressed satisfaction with the interim government's overall performance.
"It is clear that Bangladeshis see progress under Dr Yunus' leadership," said Johanna Kao, IRI's senior director for Asia-Pacific. "Their vote of confidence in him and the interim government reflects a widespread desire for stability, accountability, and reform."
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The survey also found strong voter engagement ahead of the upcoming national election, with 66% of respondents saying they are very likely to vote and another 23% somewhat likely to participate. Additionally, 80% of respondents expressed optimism that the elections will be free and fair.
"The enthusiasm of Bangladeshis highlights the importance of sustaining reform efforts and ensuring that the elections are credible and peaceful," Kao said.
IRI regularly conducts nationwide public opinion research in Bangladesh to ascertain insights into how citizens view policy, political, and governance issues.
IRI's findings on public opinion under the AL regime
The IRI has conducted several surveys in recent years under Sheikh Hasina's administration, showing consistently high public approval on governance and economic issues.
According to the IRI report published on 8 August 2023, about 70% of Bangladeshis approved of the then prime minister Hasina's performance, while support for the opposition also rose to 63%, up from 36% in September 2019.
An earlier IRI report, published on 30 August 2017, found that 75% respondents felt the country was headed in the right direction, reflecting improvements in the economic situation, with 63% reporting personal economic gains over the past year and 68% expecting further improvement.
Despite this optimism, the report noted that 20% of respondents cited the economy as the country's top concern, nearly matching the 19% who identified security as the main issue.
Between 10 April and 21 May 2018, the IRI survey found that 62% of respondents felt the country was moving in the right direction, while perceptions of political stability varied, with 40% describing it as somewhat good, 12% as very bad, and 8% as very good.
