Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of workplace to Muhammad Yunus as the top of the interim authorities in Dhaka on August 8, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin slammed Muhammad Yunus, who headed the nation’s interim administration after the autumn of the Sheikh Hasina authorities in August 2024 until the February elections, saying he “didn’t observe the nation’s structure”.
In an interview to Bangladesh newspaper Kaaler Kantho, Mr. Shahabuddin revealed a stark image of the chaos that unfolded within the nation throughout the interim authorities’s rule saying that the Yunus administration didn’t temporary him about necessary choices, together with the commerce settlement between Bangladesh and the US that was introduced a number of days earlier than the election.
Mr. Shahabuddin recalled the 18 months of the Yunus administration and mentioned that there have been makes an attempt to “destroy the legislation and order scenario within the nation and create a constitutional disaster”.
The President mentioned the Yunus administration didn’t seek the advice of him whereas issuing orders. “The structure says that the chief advisor has to temporary me after each international journey. However Dr. Yunus didn’t replace me. The chief advisor has to tell me in writing concerning the talks and discussions that occur abroad. He went overseas some 14 or 15 occasions, however he by no means met me after these journeys,” he mentioned.
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The President mentioned Mr. Yunus didn’t take him into confidence even when the U.S.-Bangladesh deal was signed. “I ought to have been briefed when the deal was signed… It’s a constitutional mandate. However he (Mr. Yunus) didn’t do this, neither verbally nor in writing.”
On August 8, 2024, Mr. Shahabuddin administered Mr. Yunus, a Nobel laureate, the oath of workplace because the interim authorities’s chief advisor. The President mentioned he had performed a key position in making Mr. Yunus the chief advisor after the autumn of the Hasina authorities. “I took the initiative to type the interim authorities. However there was no coordination from the chief advisor’s facet after that. He by no means got here to satisfy me, and saved me at the hours of darkness,” he mentioned.
Referring to the protests outdoors Bangabhaban, the President’s residence and workplace, on October 22, 2024, Mr. Shahabuddin alleged that there have been “conspiracies to depose him”.
“I used to be resolute and didn’t let any conspiracy succeed, particularly the unconstitutional makes an attempt to take away the President from workplace,” he mentioned. Mr. Shahabuddin mentioned the 18 months he spent at Bangabhaban when Mr. Yunus was in cost didn’t give him a superb expertise. “There was a storm upon me. I don’t know if anybody else would have weathered it,” he mentioned.
He mentioned he by no means obtained a name from Mr. Yunus after the protests. “He by no means had any stance for or towards me. And I by no means reached out to him for any assist,” he mentioned.
The President mentioned it was Bangladesh Nationwide Celebration (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman, who turned Prime Minister on February 17 after profitable a landmark election, who stood by him. “The BNP management assured me and mentioned that I have to guarantee constitutional continuity within the nation. The armed forces additionally stood by me.”
He mentioned Mr. Rahman, about whom he was “curious”, was “so cordial” to him.
The President additionally alleged that Yunus administration intentionally saved him on the sidelines and stopped him from travelling overseas on two events. Referring to an invite from Qatar, he mentioned that the Bangladesh Overseas Ministry wrote a letter with out consulting him. “The letter mentioned that the ‘President is busy with nationwide responsibility and won’t be able to journey to Qatar’. I used to be requested to signal that letter,” he mentioned.
Mr. Shahabuddin mentioned the interim administration didn’t need him within the limelight and prevented him from attending occasions inside Bangladesh too, even college convocations sometimes attended by the President.
Citing an try and denigrate the President’s workplace, he mentioned that the Yunus administration eliminated portraits of the President from consulates and excessive commissions of Bangladesh the world over. “The President represents the nation and it’s a customized to show his portrait. The administration ended decades-long customs in a single night time,” he mentioned.
Revealed – February 23, 2026 05:43 pm IST
