Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has accused former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of sidelining the presidency, violating constitutional norms and attempting to curtail his role during the tenure of the interim government, according to an interview published by Bengali daily Kaler Kantho.
The President alleged that Yunus neither maintained institutional coordination nor kept him informed about key state decisions, including foreign visits, agreements and policy actions, and claimed that repeated efforts were made to politically and administratively isolate him.
In the interview, Shahabuddin alleged that Yunus failed to follow constitutional provisions requiring regular consultation with the President.
“The constitution says that whenever he goes on a foreign visit, he must meet the President after returning and inform me in writing about the discussions and outcomes. He travelled abroad 14 to 15 times but did not inform me even once," he said.
The President further claimed he was kept completely unaware of major state matters, including an agreement signed with the United States.
“I knew nothing about it. Such a state agreement must be communicated to the President. That is a constitutional obligation. But he neither informed me verbally nor in writing," Shahabuddin told the newspaper.
Alleging deliberate marginalisation, Shahabuddin said Yunus avoided engagement with him despite the President initiating the process that led to the formation of the interim administration.
“I was the source of the process through which he became chief adviser, yet he never coordinated with me. He did not come to see me even once and tried to keep me completely in the dark," he said.
The President also alleged that his foreign engagements were blocked without consultation.
Referring to invitations from Kosovo and Qatar, he said officials drafted letters declining the visits in his name.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
