Dhaka’s political landscape is heating up as President Mohammed Shahabuddin unleashes a scathing critique of Muhammad Yunus’s interim government. In a revealing interview with Bangla Daily Kaler Kantho at his official residence Bangabhaban, the president claimed he was systematically sidelined and targeted in plots to undermine his constitutional role.
Shahabuddin asserted that during the 18-month interim period, he was excluded from critical discussions, left in the dark about major state decisions, and even stripped of his press department. ‘I wasn’t part of any meetings, yet conspiracies were hatched against me to destroy the country’s peace and create a constitutional vacuum,’ he stated firmly.
The president stood his ground against multiple attempts to remove him unconstitutionally, crediting his resolve for thwarting those schemes. He described the period as a ‘storm’ he endured alone, questioning if anyone else could have withstood such isolation.
Highlighting procedural lapses, Shahabuddin noted that Yunus, as chief adviser, undertook 14-15 foreign trips but never briefed him upon return, flouting constitutional mandates for post-tour reports. Key developments, including a last-minute US agreement before elections and 133 ordinances, were kept from him entirely.
His proposed visits to Kosovo and Qatar were blocked, leaving him ‘completely in the dark.’ Previous governments, he contrasted, always kept the president informed, underscoring a deliberate neglect of protocol.
This bombshell interview exposes deep rifts in Bangladesh’s transitional governance, raising questions about power dynamics and constitutional fidelity as the nation moves forward.