[🇧🇩] Everything about the interim government and its actions

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TIB says interim administration failed to take stand against corruption

Transparency International Bangladesh chief Iftekharuzzaman has said the interim government failed to take a stand against corruption. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the local chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, a global anti-corruption organisation, presented topics that t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

TIB says interim administration failed to take stand against corruption

bdnews24.com
Published :
Dec 07, 2025 21:53
Updated :
Dec 07, 2025 21:53

Transparency International Bangladesh chief Iftekharuzzaman has said the interim government failed to take a stand against corruption.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the local chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, a global anti-corruption organisation, presented topics that the organisation believe should be accommodated in political parties’ manifestos ahead of the next parliamentary election.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, he said: “TIB does not have data on whether corruption in the country has increased or decreased after Aug 5. We are working on comparative information. However, corruption has continued. We have seen examples of it since the afternoon of August 5.”

“TIB cannot say corruption has reduced in the country after Aug 5,” said Iftekharuzzaman.

A section is engaged in corruption through factionalism, land grabbing and extortion, he said. The quarter is abusing political power and governance space to serve its own interest.

Iftekharuzzaman added that there was no denying the fact that the interim government had missed the opportunity to take a strong stand against corruption.

He called on political parties to form an independent bank commission.

The TIB presented 52 recommendations at the press conference. It recommended freeing the bank and financial sector from factional and family control by removing individuals with political and business interests from the boards and management of all commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank.

It also demanded that perpetrators of past fraud, irregularities and corruption be brought to book.

Iftekharuzzaman said the legal framework alone was not enough to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.

He said the majority of businessmen have suffered losses over the last 15 years.

He pointed out that the government failed to implement the reform commission proposal to incorporate corruption in the business sector in the ACC schedule.​

 

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President Shahabuddin feeling 'humiliated', wants to resign after February election

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Thursday he plans to step down midway through his term after February’s parliamentary election.

en.prothomalo.com

President Shahabuddin feeling 'humiliated', wants to resign after February election
Reuters Dhaka
Updated: 11 Dec 2025, 21: 31

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers oath-taking ceremony of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the country’s head of the interim government in Bangladesh at the Bangabhaban, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8 August 2024.Reuters

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Thursday he plans to step down midway through his term after February’s parliamentary election, telling Reuters he has felt humiliated by the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

As head of state, Shahabuddin is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but the role is largely ceremonial, and executive power rests with the prime minister and cabinet of the mainly Muslim country of 173 million people.

However, his position gained prominence when a student-led uprising forced long-time premier Sheikh Hasina to flee to New Delhi in August 2024, leaving him as the last remaining constitutional authority after parliament was dissolved.

Shahabuddin, 75, had been elected unopposed for a five-year term in 2023 as a nominee of Hasina’s Awami League party, which has been barred from contesting the February 12 election.

Bangladesh president says Yunus sidelined him

“I am keen to leave. I am interested to go out,” he said in a WhatsApp interview from his official residence in Dhaka, in what he said was his first media interview since taking office.

“Until elections are held, I should continue,” Shahabuddin said. “I am upholding my position because of the constitutionally held presidency.”

The president said Yunus had not met him for nearly seven months, his press department had been taken away and, in September, his portraits were removed from Bangladeshi embassies around the world.

“There was the portrait of the president, picture of the president in all consulates, embassies and high commissions, and this has been eliminated suddenly in one night,” he said. “A wrong message goes to the people that perhaps the president is going to be eliminated. I felt very much humiliated.”

Shahabuddin said he had written to Yunus about the portraits, but no action was taken. "My voice has been stifled," he added.

Yunus’ press advisers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President in contact with army chief

The president said he was in regular touch with Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose troops stood aside in August 2024 amid deadly protests against Hasina, sealing the fate of the veteran politician. Shahabuddin said Zaman had made it clear he had no intention of grabbing power.

Bangladesh has a history of military rule, but Zaman has said he wants democracy to return.

Shahabuddin said that, although some student protesters had initially demanded that he resign, no political party had asked him to do so in recent months.

Opinion polls suggest the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami will be the frontrunners to form the next government. They were part of a coalition that ruled between 2001 and 2006.

Asked if Hasina, who had governed for 20 years, had tried to contact him after fleeing, Shahabuddin declined to answer. He said he had been independent since becoming president, not affiliated to any party.​

 

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Political parties respond to Chief Adviser’s call for unity to prevent conspiracy

In response to Chief Adviser, party leaders assured that they would set aside differences and stand united to prevent any conspiracy.

en.prothomalo.com

Political parties respond to Chief Adviser’s call for unity to prevent conspiracy

Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Updated: 13 Dec 2025, 16: 59

Leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP in a meeting with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Saturday. From Chief Adviser's press wing

In the wake of the attack on Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a prominent figure of the July uprising, chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus has called upon leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) to remain united.

He warned the parties that ousted forces are seeking to derail the election. In response, party leaders assured the chief adviser that they would set aside differences and stand united to prevent any conspiracy.

On Saturday, a day after the attack on Osman Hadi, leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party met the chief adviser at the state guest house Jamuna. Following the meeting, the office of the chief adviser briefed the media on the discussions.

Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Moncho and a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka–8 constituency, was shot on the streets of the capital yesterday, Friday afternoon, a day after the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election and referendum was announced, with polling set for 12 February.

Hadi sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently in critical condition at Evercare Hospital.

After political parties raised concerns over the law and order situation surrounding the election following the shooting of Osman Hadi, professor Yunus held a meeting with leaders of the three parties.

Prior to this meeting, he also met with members of Osman Hadi’s family.

Those present at the meeting included BNP standing committee members Salahuddin Ahmed and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed; Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Mia Golam Parwar and assistant secretary general Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair; NCP convener Nahid Islam and the party’s chief organiser for the southern region, Hasnat Abdullah.

Law adviser Asif Nazrul and member secretary of the Inqilab Moncho, Abdullah Al Jaber, were also present.

‘They have deployed trained shooters’

Urging the parties to view the attack on Osman Hadi as a warning, the Chief Adviser said that the incident was part of a premeditated and deep-rooted conspiracy, backed by powerful forces.

The objective of the conspirators, he said, is to prevent the election from taking place. He described the attack as highly “symbolic”.

Professor Yunus stated, “Based on the information available so far, it appears that the conspirators have expanded their network. They have taken to the field with trained shooters.”

Calling on both the government and political parties to remain resolute, the Chief Adviser said that these forces are attempting to demonstrate their strength and undermine all preparations for the election. Such attempts must be confronted collectively.

He also urged the parties to move away from the internal conflicts that have recently emerged among the pro–July uprising forces ahead of the election.

Political debate will continue, but we must move away from a culture of viewing others as enemies or resorting to attacks. Tensions naturally arise during elections, but it must be kept in mind that these tensions should remain within a controllable limit.”

Leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP consoled the family of Sharif Osman Hadi during a meeting with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on 13 December, 2025 From Chief Adviser's press wing

Law adviser Asif Nazrul cautioned the political parties, stating that the Awami League regained strength from the moment infighting began among political groups.

He stressed that the parties must remain vigilant not only about their own partisan interests, but also about the national interest.

‘Without unity, no security measures will be effective’

Leaders of the political parties who attended the meeting pledged to maintain unity, acknowledging that failure to do so would only pave the way for the return of the ousted Awami League.

BNP leader Salahuddin said, “In the present situation, we must remain united. Under no circumstances should we engage in mutual blame. Regardless of how much we may disagree politically, in the interest of the nation and in the interest of July, we must remain united.”

He also advised strengthening operations to recover illegal weapons and intensifying action against those involved in conspiracies.

Jamaat leader Mia Golam Parwar said, “Recently, our various statements have increased the tendency to blame one another, which has given our opponents an opportunity. In pursuit of narrow party interests, we have turned each other into adversaries. Why should we make statements that divide the nation? We must remain united as before. All parties must uphold their commitments.”

NCP convener Nahid Islam pointed to what he described as anti–July uprising propaganda saying, “Narratives are being created in the media and on social media in such a way that it appears those who carried out the uprising committed a crime.”

Claiming that various efforts are under way to ‘normalise’ the Awami League and the Jatiya Party, Nahid Islam said, “They are regularly participating in television talk shows, holding meetings in various offices of the administration, gathering at universities and chanting slogans within court premises.”

Nahid called for measures to stop those who are implementing the Awami League’s agenda while posing as intellectuals or cultural activists.

He said, “We must collectively take ownership of July. The constant debate over how July should be defined is destroying it.

The conspirators are viewing our disunity as our defeat. They are doing whatever they wish while sitting in India, and we are unable to do anything.”

Stating that there is no need for any special security for themselves, Nahid said they would not accept it in any case.

Hasnat Abdullah said, “If we ourselves fail to remain united, no security arrangements will be of any use to us.”​