# Interim government of Muhammad Yunus

The leadership of Muhammad Yunus began on 8 August 2024 when he was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. In August 2024, after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister and her departure to India following the Student–People's uprising, the key coordinators of the uprising announced that Yunus would be Chief Adviser of the interim government. The main pledge of this government is organise a constituent assembly to draft and adopt a new, inclusive, democratic constitution, ensuring the inviolability of human dignity.

## Background

On 5 August 2024, General Waker-uz-Zaman, the Chief of the Army Staff, handed the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to President Mohammed Shahabuddin following the uprising. President Shahabuddin immediately started the process of meeting with political leaders, key coordinators of the protest and civil society members from around the country to discuss the formation of an interim government. President dissolved the Parliament on 6 August 2024.

## Premiership
### Inauguration

Yunus was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh in a ceremony at the Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath ceremony. Foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party and other guests attended the state ceremony. Yunus and the President signed the oath documents of the office.

### Domestic affairs

On 9 August 2024, Yunus visited injured people at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On 10 August 2024, he also visited the home and family members of Abu Sayed and paid respects to Sayed's grave in Rangpur. On 13 August, he visited the Dhakeshwari National Temple, the main place of worship for the Hindu minority in the capital city of Dhaka to meet the leaders of the Hindu community and denounced the post-resignation attacks on Hindus and other religious and ethnic minorities.
As head of government, Yunus delivered his first address to the nation on 25 August 2024. He outlined the proposed reforms in his half-hour speech. In the speech, he sought for constitutional and electorial reforms and promised to reform the country's economy, education, health, human rights, election system, legal system etc. in many other areas. On 11 September, Muhammad Yunus announced 6 commissions to fulfil the interim government's intentions to reform the electoral system, police administration, judiciary and public administration in Bangladesh alongside strengthening anti-corruption measures and amending the constitution avert from the previous authoritarian regime.
Hasina regime's violent crackdown included the use of tear gas, live ammunition, and mass arrests, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and thousands of detentions within three weeks during the Student–People's uprising. Interim leader Yunus later claimed that as many as 1,500 people were killed and up to 3,500 forcibly abducted during Hasina's 15-year rule. He pledged investigations into these alleged violations and enforced disappearances.
Almost immediately after the transition of power, the main opposition in the country demanded elections. However, the law, justice and parliamentary affairs adviser to the government, Asif Nazrul, said that the incumbent would "remain in power as long as necessary."
In late August, several individuals associated with Islamic terrorist organisations such as Ansarullah Bangla Team and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, who were allegedly imprisoned on false charges, were released from prisons by the interim government. Many were cleared of all charges while some were released on bail. One of the most controversial moves was the release of Mufti Jashimuddin Rahmani, chief of the Ansarullah Bangla Team. There were at least 4 cases lodged against him for inciting terrorism.
On 17 September, July Shaheed Smrity Foundation was launched to support the families of those who were killed or injured in the uprising. 1 billion taka was donated from the relief fund of the chief adviser.
In October 2024, despite heavy security and deployment of armed personnel, scattered incidents of idol desecration and violent intimidation of Hindus occurred in various parts of the country during Durga Puja festivities in an attempt to jeopardize the observance of the most important Hindu festival in the country.
On 4 December, Hasina accused Yunus's administration of perpetrating a meticulously designed genocide and requested them to "take all steps for the protection of minorities."
In February 2025, following a widespread outburst of violence in the aftermath of demolition of Dhanmondi 32, the Yunus administration launched "Operation Devil Hunt" to quell the ongoing violence. On its first day, 1308 people were arrested. However, this exercise was criticised for selectively targeting members of the Awami League and its allies such as the Jatiya Party.
Yunus' government received heavy criticism for its apparent failure to quell a spate of crimes against women, especially against minors in the aftermath of the revolution, following the death of an 8 year old Bengali Muslim girl from injuries sustained on being gangraped by her 20 year old brother-in-law and his father on March 2025 at Magura district.

#### Reforms in education

In October 2024, Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, made a remark about a "reset button" during an interview with the Voice of America, which was seen as suggesting revision of the country's history. The government's press wing later clarified that Yunus did not intend to 'erase" the nation's "proud history".
A graffiti photo with the term "Adivasi" was removed from Bangladeshi textbooks in an effort to maintain "state harmony" and a "pluralistic society" in line with the new constitutional principles which, at the time will replace, is in the process of replacing "nationalism, socialism, secularism" with "Equality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism". "Democracy" is not set to be replaced in the constitution. The removal of the graffiti prompted a demonstration by indigenous activists, which would be followed by an attack on the demonstrators by the group "Students for Sovereignty" on January 15, 2025, injuring 20 people. The group previously has criticized Yunus for using the term "Adivasi" in his speech on August 25, 2024. Protests continued on January 16, as indigenous rights students, under the Agitated Adivasi Students banner, marched towards the home ministry; the police responded with water cannons and batons in accordance to the principles the interim government followed at the time.

### Economic affairs

In August, the Yunus administration appointed economist Debapriya Bhattacharya to head a committee charged with drafting a white paper on the economy of Bangladesh. In September, Bhattacharya said that all agreements made during the AL regime would be "closely examined".
On 18 August, the interim government expanded the inter-bank market's foreign exchange currency band from 1% to 2.5% to increase liquidity and allow banks to offer "slightly" higher rates. On 29 August, the treasury heads of 47 banks agreed to cap the USD exchange rate at Tk120. However as state-owned banks continued to offer higher rates, private banks continued to do the same, leading to Bangladesh's remittances rate reaching Tk122. The interim government also implemented a market-based exchange rate. A decrease in under-invoicing, money laundering and the decreased use of informal hundi channels in addition to a stronger dollar and decreased imports saw Bangladesh's remittances grow by 58% (to $4.63bn) in August–September.
However, Inflation and economic growth have been an issue under the interim setup. As per the South Asia Development Update, the World Bank revised its economic growth forecast from 5.7% in April 2024 to 4% in October for the financial year 2025. Political instability exacerbated preexisting inflation. Food inflation under the interim government reached 14% and general inflation 11%. A sudden sharp rise in inflation in July 2024 was mostly attributed to the political turmoil facing Bangladesh; after momentary stabilization, inflation once again begun to increase. The general inflation rate in Bangladesh reached 10.87%, up from 9.92% in September 2024. Later in November, inflation accelerated to 11.38%, the highest in four months.
Development projects deemed "economically less important" were dropped by the interim government, while the owners of ready-made garment industries agreed to an 18-point demand of workers including minimum wage, nightly allowances, increased tiffin, monthly attendance bonusses, etc. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) noted "ongoing chaos" in the garment industry. In the banking sector the government reorganized the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Bank (BB), appointed a new central bank governor, and restructured the Boards of several state-owned commercial banks. In response to inflation, Bangladesh Bank untied controls on interest rates to decrease money supply, while the Yunus administration set the prices of 'daily commodities,' withdrew import duties on foodstuffs, removed letter of credit (LC) requirements on 'daily commodity' imports, and said there would be no borrowing limit from banks for companies importing food and fertilizers. Inflation has continued to rise, reaching 11.38%, a four-month high in December.
The interim government cancelled money "whitening" channels by removing a provision previously allowing the legitimization of undeclared assets by levying a 15% tax after asset declaration. Two bodies; an advisory committee to reform the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and a task force to review the Income Tax Act 2023 were constituted by the Interim administration, which also launched an online return filing system for tax year 2024-25 and made the submission of online income tax returns mandatory for certain occupations. Tax exemption status was restored to Grameen Bank and given to As-Sunnah Foundation.
In the stock market, the interim ministry reorganized the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Dhaka Stock Exchange, and Chittagong Stock Exchange, reduced capital gains tax to 15%, and formed three bodies: a committee to investigate S. Alam and Salman F. Rahman, another to "determine" the fall in market share prices, and a five-member task force to improve the market and recommend reforms. TI Bangladesh said that there had been a "failure" from July to October to meet revenue collection targets and that loopholes continued to exist in property purchasing for legitimizing "black money". On the stock market it said that the "share market is still unstable".
In November, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said "early signs suggest that policymakers can avoid a Sri Lanka-style economic crash" and added exchange rate reforms helped improve foreign reserves while inflation had declined from its peak, although it warned that "serious economic risks remain". The crisis group also said that long-term economic reform was "far longer" than the interim governments "likely lifespan", stating that the government was focused on "short-term macro-economic priorities" such as inflation, foreign reserves and economic stability.

### Foreign affairs

Yunus' government engaged in discussions with the ambassadors of different countries, including Palestine, Italy, China, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India, and others.
A few days after becoming the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Yunus talked with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates. After the discussion, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pardoned 57 Bangladeshi expatriates who were previously arrested for protesting against the Hasina government.
On 29 August, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was signed by Yunus. It was well received by the people and the United Nations.
On his official foreign visit at Seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Yunus discussed with the heads of the governments of many countries like Mauritius, Canada, United States, Italy, Pakistan, Nepal, the Maldives, and the Netherlands. He also discussed with some high officials like Volker Türk, Ajay Banga, Kristalina Georgieva, Karim Ahmad Khan, Samantha Power, Noel Quinn, and Dick Durbin. He also met former U.S. President Bill Clinton in a programme.
On 4 October, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, visited Bangladesh and greeted with Yunus. They discussed strengthening bilateral relations and different sectors of both countries.
On 14 March 2025, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. He praised Bangladesh for its humanitarian efforts but stressed the urgent need for international support to sustain aid programs. He also expressed his solidarity with Bangladesh’s reform and transition process during his visits.

### Constitutional Status

The interim government has faced legal obstacles due to constitutional and “legal inconsistencies”. The Appellate Division ruling from 2011 invalidated the 13th Amendment, which introduced the caretaker government system. The 15th amendment upheld this by abolishing the caretaker provision altogether. The Supreme Court's High Court Division declared the 15th Amendment unconstitutional but the move failed to restore the caretaker system. Amin Al Rashid of The Daily Star says the Appellate Division’s ruling remains 'binding'. The interim government operates outside the existing legal framework. For the government to be constitutionally legitimate, the 2011 ruling needs to be overturned which has not happened.

## Cabinet

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus and his council of advisers at Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. The cabinet currently consists of Yunus as chief adviser, 23 advisers and 3 special assistants to the chief adviser. Apart from one Hindu adviser (Bidhan Ranjan Roy) and one Buddhist adviser (Supradip Chakma), all other members of the council are Muslim, out of which four are women (Farida Akhter, Nurjahan Begum, Rizwana Hasan and Sharmeen Murshid). Three student activists (Mahfuz Alam, Asif Mahmud and Nahid Islam) have also been included in the council. The Jamuna State Guest House is serving as the official residence of the chief adviser.

## Approval ratings

| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Date published | Sample size | Margin of Error | Approval | Approval | Disapproval | Disapproval | "Can't say" | "Can't say" | No answer | No answer | Net approval | Net approval |
| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Date published | Sample size | Margin of Error | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy |
| BRAC Institute of Governance and Development | 15 — 31 October 2024 | 12 December 2024 | 4,158 | ± 1.55% | 56% | 32% | 34% | 43% | 8% | 4% | 2% | 1% | +22% | -9% |
| BIGD | 22 Aug – 5 September 2024 | 16 September 2024 | 2,366 | ± 2.0% | 71% | 60% | 29% | 40% | – | – | – | – | +42% | +20% |