Yunus ministry | |
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![]() 23rd Council of Ministers and 5th Council of Advisers of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh | |
8 August 2024 – present | |
![]() Muhammad Yunus | |
Date formed | 8 August 2024 |
People and organisations | |
President | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
Total no. of members | 35 |
Member party | Independent |
Status in legislature | Dissolved |
History | |
Election | - |
Outgoing election | February 2026 |
Predecessor | Hasina V |
An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed on 8 August 2024 in Bangladesh, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024 amid nationwide student and public protests against the government. Following the dissolution of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad on 6 August 2024, the interim cabinet will remain in office until a new Prime Minister is appointed after a snap general election. The government, like the previous non-caretaker government interim administrations (in 1975 and 1990), is extra-constitutional. However, Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh affirmed the legality of the stopgap government on 9 August 2024, stating that the doctrine of necessity created an urgent need to manage state affairs and address the constitutional vacuum, [1] [2] [3] similar to previous cases. The main pledge of his ministry is to forge consensus about and implement fundamental reforms that are required to hold a free and fair national election by June 2026. [4]
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus and his council of advisers at Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. [5] The cabinet currently consists of 1 Chief Adviser, 22 Advisers, 7 Special Positions Under the Chief Adviser's Office and 5 Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser under Minister of State. The Jamuna State Guest House is serving as the official residence of the Chief Adviser. [5]
On 5 August 2024, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina resigned and went on a self-imposed exile to India amidst a nationwide uprising. Initially focused on issues such as quota reforms, the movement gradually intensified following reports of violence and mass casualties. The uprising, later referred to as the Student–People's Uprising or the July Revolution, culminated in calls for Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet to step down. The movement was widely perceived as pro-democratic in nature.
Following her resignation, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman and President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the formation of an interim government. The president initiated discussions with political leaders across the country and dissolved the parliament on 6 August 2024. The Anti-discrimination Students Movement, lead organisation of the uprising, proposed economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was then residing in Paris, to head the interim government. Yunus accepted the proposal, and the interim government was finalized on 7 August 2024.
The following is the list of members of the interim government: [a] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [46] [54] [55] [56] [57] [71] [74] [90] [78] [82] [86] [91] [92] [93] [94]
Name | Position | Date of Appointment in Interim Government | Portfolio | Date of Appointment | Date of Termination | Career Highlights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A F Hassan Ariff | Adviser | 8 August 2024 | Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives | 9 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 | Former Attorney General of Bangladesh and Former Adviser in the 2007 Caretaker Government |
Ministry of Land | 27 August 2024 | 20 December 2024 (died in office) | ||||
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism | 10 November 2024 |
Name | Position | Date of Appointment in Interim Government | Portfolio | Date of Appointment | Date of Termination | Career Highlights | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nahid Islam | Adviser | 8 August 2024 | Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology | 9 August 2024 | 25 February 2025 | Key Coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement | To join National Citizen Party |
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | 16 August 2024 | ||||||
M Aminul Islam | Special Assistant (with the status of Minister of State) | 10 November 2024 | Ministry of Education | 10 November 2024 | 10 March 2025 | Former Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of National University Former President of Federation of Bangladesh University Teacher's Association. | Unknown |
[3] [11] [14] [17] [27] [31] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [55] [62] [63] [64] [65] [69] [71] [89] [87]
Portfolio | Adviser | Date of Appointment | Date of Termination |
---|---|---|---|
Armed Forces Division | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Cabinet Division | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Agriculture | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 |
A F Hassan Ariff | 10 November 2024 | 20 December 2024 [b] | |
Muhammad Yunus | 20 December 2024 | 15 April 2025 | |
Sheikh Bashir Uddin | 15 April 2025 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 11 August 2024 |
Supradip Chakma | 11 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Commerce | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Salehuddin Ahmed | 16 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 | |
Sheikh Bashir Uddin | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Cultural Affairs | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Asif Nazrul | 16 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 | |
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Defence | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Faruk-e-Azam | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Education | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Wahiduddin Mahmud | 16 August 2024 | 5 March 2025 | |
Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar | 5 March 2025 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | Rizwana Hasan | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Asif Nazrul | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Finance | Salehuddin Ahmed | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock | Farida Akhter | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Food | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 |
Ali Imam Majumder | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Md. Touhid Hossain | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Nurjahan Begum | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Home Affairs | M Sakhawat Hussain | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Housing and Public Works | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Adilur Rahman Khan | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Nahid Islam | 16 August 2024 | 25 February 2025 [c] | |
Muhammad Yunus | 25 February 2025 | 26 February 2025 | |
Mahfuj Alam | 26 February 2025 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Industries | Adilur Rahman Khan | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Labour & Employment | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Asif Mahmud | 16 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 | |
M Sakhawat Hussain | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Land | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 27 August 2024 |
A F Hassan Ariff | 27 August 2024 | 20 December 2024 [b] | |
Muhammad Yunus | 20 December 2024 | 20 January 2025 | |
Ali Imam Majumder | 20 January 2025 [d] | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs | Asif Nazrul | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Liberation War Affairs | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 13 August 2024 |
Faruk-e-Azam | 13 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives | A. F Hassan Ariff | 9 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 |
Asif Mahmud | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Planning | Salehuddin Ahmed | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Wahiduddin Mahmud | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Primary and Mass Education | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 11 August 2024 |
Bidhan Ranjan Roy | 11 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology | Nahid Islam | 9 August 2024 | 25 February 2025 [c] |
Muhammad Yunus | 25 February 2025 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Public Administration | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Railways | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Religious Affairs | A F M Khalid Hossain | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Science and Technology | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 27 August 2024 |
Salehuddin Ahmed | 27 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Shipping | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 27 August 2024 |
M Sakhawat Hussain | 27 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Social Welfare | Sharmeen Murshid | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Textiles and Jute | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
M Sakhawat Hussain | 16 August 2024 | 10 November 2024 | |
Sheikh Bashir Uddin | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Water Resources | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 16 August 2024 |
Rizwana Hasan | 16 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs | Muhammad Yunus | 9 August 2024 | 27 August 2024 |
Sharmeen Murshid | 27 August 2024 | Currently in Office | |
Ministry of Youth and Sports | Asif Mahmud | 9 August 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry | Special Assistant | Date of Appointment | Date of Termination |
---|---|---|---|
Ministry of Education | M Aminul Islam | 10 November 2024 | 10 March 2025 [c] |
Ministry of Finance | Anisuzzaman Chowdhury | 10 March 2025 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Home Affairs | Khoda Baksh Chowdhury | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Md Sayedur Rahman | 10 November 2024 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology | Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb | 5 March 2025 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges | Sheikh Moin Uddin | 5 March 2025 | Currently in Office |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Mohammad Sufiur Rahman | 20 April 2025 | Currently in Office |
The Yunus ministry formed eleven reform commissions to reform perceived important areas of the government. The Head of Commission will have a status of a Justice of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. [95]
The details of the head of commission and members are as follows. [96] [97] [98] [99]
Name | Position | Career Highlights |
---|---|---|
Public Administration Reform Commission | ||
Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury | Head of Commission | Chairman, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Former Adviser of Latifur Rahman Caretaker Government |
Muhammad Tarek | Member | Former Secretary |
Muhammad Aiyub Mia | Member | Former Secretary |
Muhammad Mokhlesur Rahman | Member-Secretary | Senior Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration |
Muhammad Hafizur Rahman | Member | Former Additional Secretary |
Rezwan Khayer | Member | Former Additional Secretary |
A. K. A. Firowz Ahmad | Member | Former Chairman, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka |
Syeda Shahina Subhan | Member | Former Director of Centre for Medical Education |
Firoz Ahmed | Member | Former Director General of Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General |
Khandakar Mohammad Aminur Rahman | Member | Former Member of National Board of Revenue |
Mehedi Hasan | Member | Student Representative, Jagannath University |
Anti Corruption Commission Reform Commission | ||
Iftekharuzzaman | Head of Commission | Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh |
Ahmed Ataul Hakim | Member | Former Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh |
Mobasser Monem | Member | Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka |
Mushtaq Khan | Member | Professor, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London |
Mahdin Chowdhury | Member | Bar-at-Law |
Mahbubur Rahman | Member | Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka |
Farzana Sharmin | Member | Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
Mubashshir Munim | Member | Student Representative, North South University |
Justice Division Reform Commission | ||
Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman | Head of Commission | Former Justice, Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
Md. Emdadul Haque Azad | Member | Retired Justice, High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh Former District and Sessions Judge |
Farid Ahmed Shibli | Member | Justice, High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh Former District and Sessions Judge |
Sayed Aminul Islam | Member | Former District and Sessions Judge Former Registrar, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
Masdar Hossain | Member | Former District and Sessions Judge Plaintiff in the case of Masdar Hossain v. State |
Tanim Hossain Shawon | Member | Barrister-at-law and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
Kazi Mahfuzul Haq Shupon | Member | Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka |
Arman Hossain | Member | Student Representative, University of Dhaka |
Police Reform Commission | ||
Safar Raj Hossain | Head of Commission | Former Secretary |
Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed | Member-Secretary | Additional Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs |
Muhammad Iqbal | Member | Former Additional Secretary Former Director General, Department of Narcotics Control |
Muhammad Harun Chowdhury | Member | Former Divisional Commissioner and Additional Secretary |
Sheikh Md. Sajjad Ali | Member | Police Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Bangladesh Police Former Additional Inspector General of Bangladesh Police |
Md. Rafiqul Hasan | Member | Joint Secretary (Drafting), Legislative & Parliamentary Affairs Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs |
Md. Golam Rosul | Member | Deputy Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Chief of Special Branch, Bangladesh Police |
Mohammad Ashfaqul Alam | Member | Deputy Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Commandant, Police Training Centre, Tangail |
Shanaz Huda | Member | Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka |
A. S. M. Nasiruddin Elan | Member | Human rights activist |
Mohammad Jarif Rahman | Member | Researcher and Student Representative |
Electoral System Reform Commission | ||
Badiul Alam Majumdar | Head of Commission | Editor, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik Election and Local Government Expert |
Tofail Ahmed | Member | Former Professor and Charman of Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong Educator, Local Government and Election Expert |
Jesmin Tuli | Member | Former Additional Secretary, Bangladesh Election Commission Electoral System, Voter Registration and National Identity Card Expert |
Md. Abdul Alam | Member | Election Expert |
Zahed Ur Rahman | Member | Political Expert and Opinion Maker |
Mir Nadia Nivin | Member | Governance and Institutional Reform Expert |
Muhammed Sadek Ferdous | Member | Electronic Voting and Blockchain Expert |
Sadiq Al Arman | Member | Student Representative, East West University |
Constitutional Reform Commission | ||
Ali Riaz | Head of Commission | Political scientist and Writer |
Sumaiya Khair | Member | Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka |
Imran Siddique | Member | Bar-at-Law |
Muhammad Ekramul Haque | Member | Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka |
Sharif Bhuiyan | Member | Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
M Moin Alam Firozi | Member | Bar-at-Law |
Firoz Ahmed | Member | Writer |
Md. Mostain Billah | Member | Writer and Human rights activist |
Mahfuj Alam | Member | Student Representative (7 October 2024 - 10 November 2024) |
Saleh Uddin Sifat | Member | Student Representative (9 December 2024 - present) |
Labor Reform Commission | ||
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed | Head of Commission | Executive Director, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) |
Mahfuzul Haq | Member | Former Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
Zakir Hossain | Member | Professor, Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi |
Tapan Dutta | Member | President, Chattogram Divisional Committee, Bangladesh Trade Union Centre |
A K M Nasir | Member | Advocate and Former President of Bangladesh Labour Court Bar Association |
M Kamran T Rahman | Member | Former President of Bangladesh Employer's Federation |
N/A | Member | Student Representative |
Women Affairs Reform Commission | ||
Shirin Parvin Haque | Head of Commission | Founding Member, Naripokkho |
Maheen Sultan | Member | Senior Fellow, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development |
Sara Hossain | Member | Honorary Executive Director, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust |
Fawzia Karim Firoze | Member | Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh and President, Foundation for Law & Development |
Kalpona Akter | Member | President, Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation |
Halida Hanum Akhter | Member | Women Health Expert |
Sumaiya Islam | Member | Executive Director, Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra |
Nirupa Dewan | Member | Former Member, National Human Rights Commission |
Ferdousi Sultana | Member | Former Senior Social Development Adviser, Asian Development Bank |
Nishita Jaman Niha | Member | Student Representative |
Local Government Reform Commission | ||
Tofail Ahmed | Head of Commission | Former Professor and Charman of Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong Educator, Local Government and Election Expert |
Ferdous Arfina Osman | Member | Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka Former Chairman of Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka |
A. M. M. Nasir Uddin | Member | Former Secretary |
Abdur Rahman | Member | Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh |
Mahfuz Kabir | Member | Director, BISS |
Masuda Khan Shefali | Member | Executive Director, Nari Uddug Kendra |
Md Tarikul Islam | Member | Professor, Department of Government and Politics, Jahangirnagar University |
N/A | Member | Student Representative |
Mass Media Reform Commission | ||
Kamal Ahmed | Head of Commission | Journalist |
Gitiara Nasreen | Member | Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka |
Samsul Haque Jahid | Member | Editor, The Financial Express and Representative, Editor's Council |
Aktar Hossain Khan | Member | Secretary, Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh |
Member | Representative, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) | |
Sayed Abdal Ahmed | Member | Former General Secretary of National Press Club |
Fahim Ahmed | Member | Chief Executive Officer, Jamuna Television and Trustee, Broadcast Journalist Center |
Jimi Amir | Member | Journalist and Convenor, Media Support Network |
Mustafa Sabuj | Member | Bogra District Representative, The Daily Star |
Titu Dutta Gupta | Member | Deputy Editor, The Business Standard |
Abdullah Al Mamun | Member | Student Representative |
Health Sector Reform Commission | ||
AK Azad Khan | Head of Commission | President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh |
Mohammad Zakir Hossain | Member | Professor, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) |
Liaquat Ali | Member | Chairman, Pothikrit Foundation |
Saiba Aktar | Member | Gynecologist |
Naila Zaman Khan | Member | Professor, Department of Pediatric Neuroscience, Dhaka Shishu Hospital |
M. M. Reza | Member | Former Secretary |
Mojaherul Haque | Member | Former Regional Adviser, South East Asia Region, World Health Organization |
Ajharul Islam | Member | ICDDR,B |
Syed Md Akram Hussain | Member | Senior Consultant Clinical Oncology & Radiotherapy, Square Cancer Centre, Square Hospital |
Syed Atikul Haque | Member | Chief Consultant, Green Life Center for Rheumatic Care and Research |
Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman | Member | Scientist, Department of Child and Maternal Health, ICDDR,B |
Umayer Afif | Member | Student Representative |
The Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus formed several new councils, committees, and commissions, and reformed existing ones to manage various areas of the government. The councils, committees, and commissions consists of Chief Adviser, several advisers and government officials. The details about the committees are as follows. [100] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106] [107] [108] [109] [110] [111] [112] [113] [114] [115] [116] [117] [118] [119] [120] [121] [122] [123] [124] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134]
The Yunus Ministry created a new Election Commission to conduct a snap election. The commission includes 1 Chief Election Commissioner and 4 Election Commissioners. The details are as follows: [47] [48] [49] [50]
Name | Position | Date of Appoinement | Date of Termination | Career Highlights |
---|---|---|---|---|
AMM Nasir Uddin | Chief Election Commissioner | 21 November 2024 | Currently in Office | Former Secretary |
Md Anwarul Islam Sarker | Election Commissioner | 21 November 2024 | Currently in Office | Former Additional Secretary |
Abdur Rahmanel Masud | Election Commissioner | 21 November 2024 | Currently in Office | Former District and Sessions Judge |
Begum Tahmida Ahmed | Election Commissioner | 21 November 2024 | Currently in Office | Former Joint Secretary |
Abul Fazal Muhammad Sanaullah | Election Commissioner | 21 November 2024 | Currently in Office | Retired Brigadier General of Bangladesh Army |
The government created several investigation commissions to investigate on several incidents. Unlike the reform commissions these commissions are investigation commission.
Name | Position | Career Highlights |
---|---|---|
Enforced Disappearances | ||
Moinul Islam Chowdhury | Chairperson | Retired Justice of High Court Division |
Farid Ahmed Shibli | Member | Retired Additional Justice of High Court Division |
Nur Khan Liton | Member | Human rights activist |
Nabila Idris | Member | Research Fellow, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University |
Sazzad Hossain | Member | Human rights activist |
Re-investigation of BDR Mutiny | ||
A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman | Chairperson | Retired Major General of Bangladesh Army and Former Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh |
Jahangir Kabir Talukdar | Member | Retired Major General of Bangladesh Army |
Md Saidur Rahman | Member | Retired Brigadier General of Bangladesh Army and Bir Protik awardee |
Munshi Alauddin Al Azad | Member | Former Joint Secretary |
M Akbar Ali | Member | Former Deputy Inspector General of Bangladesh Police |
Md Shariful Islam | Member | Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka |
Md Shahnawaz Khan Chandan | Member | Assistant Professor, Institute of Education and Research, Jagannath University |
A. T. K. M. Iqbal | Member | Retired Major of Bangladesh Army |
The Yunus ministry formed a National Consensus Commission to decide on the process of reforms suggested by the reform commissions with different political parties and stake holders. [148] [149] [150] [151]
Name | Position in Government | Position in Commission |
---|---|---|
Muhammad Yunus | Chief Adviser | Chairperson |
Ali Riaz | Head of Commission, Constitutional Reform Commission | Vice Chairperson |
Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury | Head of Commission, Public Administration Reform Commission | Member |
Safar Raj Hossain | Head of Commission, Police Reform Commission | Member |
Badiul Alam Majumdar | Head of Commission, Electoral System Reform Commission | Member |
Md. Emdadul Haque Azad | Member, Justice Division Reform Commission | Member |
Iftekharuzzaman | Head of Commission, Anti Corruption Commission Reform Commission | Member |
In spite of the existence of interim administrations in the 1975–1978 (Sayem ministry) and 1990–1991 (Shahabuddin Ahmed ministry) periods of Bangladeshi political history, there were significant concerns regarding the legality of an interim government, considering that the Constitution of Bangladesh does not allow for it to exist. The Constitution also forbids ouster clauses, following the doctrine of basic constitutional structure.
The only form of interim government that has been constitutional in the past under the country's law was the Caretaker government system introduced in 1996 through the 13th Amendment but this was overturned by the Awami League regime in 2011 through the 15th Amendment, which repealed the former. [152]
However, with Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country amid protests, [153] [154] the Appellate Division of the Bangladeshi Supreme Court has acknowledged the necessity of the Yunus government. The court took the line that Hasina's resignation created a situation for which there was no constitutional remedy, as the Bangladeshi legal system can no longer account for transfers of power. In essence, the court upheld what essentially amounts to the wording of the 13th Amendment prior to its suspension: “The Appellate Division opined that in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution, an interim government can be formed with a chief advisor and a few other advisors in the absence of parliament” as per Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan. [155] Hassan himself a staunch supporter of the ousted Awami League, has since resigned as Chief Justice. [156]
Hence, despite the lack of constitutional legality for an interim government, due to extremely broad popular support and the need to ensure that a military junta takeover like in 1975 is prevented, Yunus was sworn in on the night of August 8, 2024. [157] [158] Yunus government enjoys broad international support and is seen as legitimate by the international community, with many Head of state and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of other nations having congratulated Yunus upon having been sworn in as the new Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh. [159] [160] [161]
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We have decided that an interim government would be formed, in which internationally renowned Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, would be the chief adviser.
The government that has been formed under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus has support from us businessmen. We hope that the broken law and order situation will be restored as soon as possible. All those students and public who were killed will be done justice through a special investigation committee and a special court of law. [e]
As the primary and main task of the interim government, effective steps must be taken in restoring normalcy and peace in public life by ensuring the safety of life and property of the people through the reestablishment of law and order in the country without delay. Following the taking of office of the interim government, it should be ensured that there not be a single incident of loss of life, attack or destruction of property in the country. [f]