DHAKA, February 2026 — In a series of explosive revelations that have rocked the Bangladeshi political landscape, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has publicly accused the former interim leader and Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus, of systematic constitutional violations and “dark plots” during his 18-month tenure.
The President’s statements come immediately following a major political transition that saw the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) return to power with a significant majority.
Claims of “Palace Imprisonment”
Speaking to the local press for the first time since the transition, President Shahabuddin described his time under the Yunus-led interim government as a period of “palace imprisonment.” Despite holding the constitutional post of Head of State, Shahabuddin claimed he was deliberately isolated and rendered a figurehead without function.
He alleged that major executive decisions—including foreign policy shifts and international trade agreements with the United States—were kept entirely hidden from him, violating mandatory constitutional protocols that require the government to inform the President of state affairs.
Allegations of a Constitutional Coup
The most serious charge involves a purported plot to unconstitutionally remove the President from office. Shahabuddin claimed that Yunus attempted to orchestrate his ouster to install a former Chief Justice in his place, a move that would have created a “constitutional vacuum” and potentially destabilized the entire state structure.
This effort was reportedly thwarted only by a combination of:
- Military Resistance: Top leadership refused to support an unconstitutional removal.
- Political Backing: The BNP issued warnings against bypassing the Head of State.
- Public Pressure: Despite “mob tactics” used to surround the presidential residence in October 2024, the President refused to resign.
International Isolation and Blocked Visits
The President also highlighted instances where his international visibility was suppressed. He revealed that invitations to high-level summits in Qatar and Kosovo were blocked by the interim administration under the guise of a “busy schedule,” effectively preventing the Head of State from engaging with the global community or representing Bangladesh on the world stage.
A New Chapter Under Tarique Rahman
The exposure of these allegations coincides with the emergence of Tarique Rahman as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Following the BNP’s massive electoral victory, Rahman has moved swiftly to “cleanse” the administration of the previous regime’s influence.
A massive reshuffle is currently underway within the top echelons of the Bangladeshi military and intelligence agencies to ensure civil-military stability. Early signals also indicate a potential recalibration of ties with India, as the new administration seeks to distance itself from the instability and anti-minority violence that characterized the interim period.
Bottom Line
The era of Muhammad Yunus’s interim rule, once hailed as a “second liberation,” is now being reframed by the state’s highest office as a period of constitutional overreach and illegal maneuvers. As the dust settles, the legal and political implications for Yunus remain to be seen, with many now calling for accountability regarding the alleged “dark plots” that nearly dismantled the country’s democratic framework.
