The group of students in the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh, which Yunus had once described as the ‘backbone’ of the July-August movement, now seems to be falling apart like a house of cards. According to the report of Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo, the Yunus-led interim government has asked two advisors associated with the student movement to resign from their ministerial posts.
This decision has come at a time when the main opposition party bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami have expressed strong protest against these student leaders. The opposition alleges that these advisors are inclined in favor of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
What is NCP?
NCP was founded by Naheed Islam, who was one of the leaders of the ‘Anti-Hasina Movement’. He resigned from his post in February and formed a new party NCP, which was formed by people associated with the July-August student movement. This was the same student-led anti-quota movement, which later turned into an anti-government movement and forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina into exile in August 2024.
Why is there protest?
The opposition of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami is that these student advisors are very close to NCP, hence they cannot remain impartial. Due to his political intentions and proximity to the NCP, questions are being raised about his neutrality, especially when the Yunus-led interim government will oversee the proposed elections. Yunus has indicated that general elections can be held in February.
Role of Mahfooz Alam and Asif Mehmood
According to the newspaper report, Mohammad Yunus The interim government of Bangladesh led by ASI has asked Information and Broadcasting Advisor Mahfooz Alam and Local Administration Advisor Asif Mahmood Sojib Bhuiyan to resign. In this interim government of Bangladesh, only ‘advisers’ are working as ministers.
Both Mahfooz Alam and Asif Mahmood played important roles in toppling Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in 2024. After Hasina was ousted from power, both were included in the 23-member Yunus-led advisory council.
sought time to resign
Mahfouz Alam initially worked as a special assistant to Yunus and was made an advisor in November. Later he was given the responsibility of Information Ministry. Asif Mahmood was earlier given the work related to Labour, Youth and Sports, but in November 2024, he got the responsibility of Local Administration Department.
Sources told the newspaper that both the leaders have sought time to resign as they fear that their resignation will embolden the opposition groups. Recently, NCP leaders had raised this issue in their meeting with Yunus and demanded balanced representation.
People have left us before too
This is not the first rift in the Yunus administration. Earlier, Nahid Islam, another leader of the student movement, had resigned from the Yunus Council in February and took over the leadership of NCP. Earlier this month, Yunus’s senior advisor Saida Rizwana Hasan had rejected NCP’s claim that the government advisors were looking for a ‘safe exit’.
—- End —-
