The 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government as its chief advisor until elections are held, has called for rival political parties jostling for power to give him their full support.

Bangladesh's de-facto prime minister has threatened to step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms that citizens await with growing impatience, a top student leader has said, deepening uncertainty in the wake of deadly protests last year.

The political crisis in Bangladesh deepened dramatically on Thursday after Muhammad Yunus, head of the caretaker government, threatened to resign unless all political parties extended their unconditional support to his administration.