Bangladesh President Shahbuddin accuses Yunus govt of plot to remove him

In an interview with the Bengali daily Kaler Kantho, as quoted by The Daily Star, Shahabuddin claimed that there was even a conspiracy to replace him through unconstitutional means.

“At one point, a plan was made to bring in a former chief justice and seat him in my place,” the President said, adding that the judge declined the offer, citing constitutional constraints.

Shahabuddin described the violent protest outside Bangabhaban on October 22, 2024, as “terrifying,” alleging that mobs were mobilised and attempted to loot the presidential residence.

He credited the armed forces and leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with helping maintain constitutional continuity during the crisis.

The President further accused interim government chief Muhammad Yunus of failing to maintain constitutionally mandated communication with him. According to Shahabuddin, Yunus neither briefed him on state affairs nor provided updates following foreign visits.

“The chief adviser did not follow any provision of the constitution. Whenever he went abroad, he was supposed to meet the president after returning and inform me in writing about the outcomes. He travelled abroad 14 to 15 times, but not once did he inform me. He never came to see me,” Shahabuddin told the newspaper, as quoted by The Daily Star.

He also claimed that he was kept “completely in the dark” during the interim period and that two of his planned foreign visits — to Kosovo and Qatar — were blocked.

Yunus’ tenure recently ended after Bangladesh voted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to power in the first general elections held following months of interim rule. The interim administration had taken charge after Sheikh Hasina was ousted amid widespread protests against her government on August 5, 2024.