Kamal Ghorui
Bangladesh president Mohammed Shahabuddin has accused former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of constitutional lapses and alleged attempts to destabilise the country and the presidency during the interim government period, according to The Daily Star.In the interview with Bangla daily Kaler Kantho, Shahabuddin said Yunus failed to maintain constitutionally mandated communication, including not briefing him after foreign visits.
“The chief adviser did not follow any provision of the constitution. Whenever he went abroad, he was supposed to meet the president after returning and inform me in writing about the outcomes. He travelled abroad 14 to 15 times, but not once did he inform me. He never came to see me,” the president said.Shahabuddin said he was kept “completely in the dark” during the period and claimed that two of his planned visits, to Kosovo and Qatar, were blocked. Referring to the political climate, he added, “In that situation, I did not receive any phone call from Dr Yunus. He was neither in favour of me nor against me. Of course, I also did not make any request to him seeking help.”
Attempted removal
Alleging attempts to remove him after the 2024 mass uprising, the president said, “At one point, even a conspiracy was made to bring a former chief justice and seat him in my place through unconstitutional means,” adding that the judge declined, citing constitutional constraints.He described the October 22, 2024 protests outside Bangabhaban as a “terrifying night”, claiming mobs attempted to loot the presidential residence before the situation was brought under control with military deployment.Shahabuddin said the armed forces and leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supported constitutional continuity. According to him, the three service chiefs told him: “You are the supreme commander of the armed forces. Your defeat means the defeat of the entire armed forces. We will prevent that at any cost.”
Pushed into isolation
The president further alleged that his office was deliberately isolated, including the withdrawal of the entire Bangabhaban press wing following a courtesy meeting with newly elected leaders of the Dhaka Reporters Unity.“Very shamelessly, three people, the press secretary, deputy press secretary and assistant press secretary, were withdrawn together,” he said, adding that two long-serving photographers were also removed. “We cannot even issue a simple press release congratulating the national cricket team when they win an international match,” he said, describing his office as “completely handicapped.”He also claimed that during the interim period, his photographs and messages were excluded from state supplements on national days, and that his portraits were removed from Bangladesh missions abroad.“That night, my photos were removed from almost all Bangladesh high commissions and consulates around the world. That incident was essentially an indication or the first step to remove me,” he said, adding that he later lodged a written protest with the foreign ministry.Despite what he termed “humiliating situations,” Shahabuddin said he remained firm to ensure constitutional continuity.
