Ex-Adviser Reveals Bangladesh Army Chief’s Two Objections to Yunus as Interim Chief

Ex-Bangladesh Adviser Says Army Chief Initially Objected to Muhammad Yunus Leading Interim Government

Former Bangladesh Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has claimed that Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman was initially opposed to appointing Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, citing two legal issues before eventually agreeing to the proposal.

Nazrul, who served in Yunus’s interim administration after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, made the claims in an interview with Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo.

Army Chief Raised Two Concerns

Recalling a meeting at the Army Headquarters, Nazrul said General Waker-Uz-Zaman praised the student-led movement that toppled the Hasina government and expressed support for political reforms before turning to the question of who should lead the interim administration.

Nazrul said he conveyed that the student leaders had unanimously chosen Muhammad Yunus for the role.

According to him, the Army Chief responded with two objections: Yunus’s conviction in a labour law case and allegations of money laundering against him.

Nazrul Says He Defended Yunus

Nazrul claimed he told the Army Chief that both the conviction and the financial allegations were politically motivated and the result of actions taken during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

He said his arguments eventually convinced General Waker-Uz-Zaman to back Yunus as the head of the interim government.

Legal Cases Against Yunus

Muhammad Yunus was convicted in January 2024 for violating Bangladesh’s labour laws through Grameen Telecom and sentenced to six months in prison. The conviction was later overturned after he assumed charge of the interim government.

In a separate case, Yunus and 13 others were indicted in June 2024 over allegations involving the embezzlement of more than $2 million. Yunus has denied any wrongdoing, while his supporters have maintained that the cases were politically motivated.

Behind-the-Scenes Account of Bangladesh’s Transition

Nazrul, a former Dhaka University professor, was among the prominent civilian figures associated with the 2024 student-led protests and later served as Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in the interim administration.

His account provides a rare glimpse into the discussions that took place before the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government, indicating that Yunus’s appointment was not immediately backed by the military leadership and required further deliberations before receiving its support.