Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin Exposes Yunus, Makes BIG Allegations

Dhaka: The political storm in Bangladesh shows no signs of abating. Just days after the new government led by Tarique Rahman assumed power, President Mohammad Shahabuddin has made a significant revelation, leveling serious allegations against former Chief Advisor and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

What did Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin say?

Speaking to the Bangladeshi daily 'Kaler Kantho', the President claimed that during Yunus's one-and-a-half-year interim rule, he was kept a "prisoner of the palace," that constitutional obligations were violated, and that a conspiracy was even hatched to remove him from office unconstitutionally.

The President stated that former Chief Advisor Yunus did not maintain constitutionally required communication with him during the interim government. He stated that he was neither informed about foreign trips nor briefed on state affairs, which he described as a "constitutional obligation." The President stated that the Chief Advisor did not follow any constitutional provisions. Whenever he traveled abroad, he was required to meet with the President upon his return and report the results in writing. He traveled abroad 14 to 15 times, but never informed me even once. He never came to meet me.

What did Shahabuddin allege?

Shahabuddin alleged that he had been held captive in the palace (Bangabhaban) for the past year and a half, and that two of his planned foreign trips (to Kosovo and Qatar) were blocked by the Yunus administration. When asked whether the former chief advisor coordinated with the president on state decisions, including the issuance of 133 ordinances, Shahabuddin said that while some ordinances may have been necessary due to circumstances, there was no justification for issuing such a large number of ordinances.

When asked if he was aware of the final agreement reached by the interim government with the United States before the elections, the President said, "No, I know nothing. I should have been formally informed of such developments. Whether the agreement was small or large, former heads of state informed the President. And that is a constitutional obligation. But they did not do so. They did not inform me either verbally or in writing. They did not come at all. When they were supposed to!"

Shahabuddin said that at one point, a conspiracy was hatched to replace the former Chief Justice by unconstitutional means. However, he added that a judge rejected the proposal, citing constitutional constraints. He described the protests outside Bangabhaban on October 22, 2024, as a "terrible night," saying that mobs were mobilized and attempts were made to loot the presidential residence, which were eventually brought under control with the deployment of the military.

Shahabuddin said that the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leadership helped him maintain constitutional continuity. He said that the chiefs of the three armed forces clearly told him that you are the supreme commander of the armed forces. Your defeat means the defeat of the entire armed forces. We will prevent this at all costs.