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Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has no plans to step down, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud confirmed today following a closed-door meeting of the interim government’s Advisory Council.
“He [Yunus] did not say he was leaving. Yes, we are facing many challenges in discharging our duties, but we are moving forward,” said Dr Mahmud. “He is staying with full commitment, and so are we. The responsibilities given to us are important—we cannot walk away from them.”
The statement came after an internal meeting of the 19-member Advisory Council at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The meeting, which began at 12:20pm, was held shortly after the weekly ECNEC session, with the Chief Adviser himself presiding.
The meeting focused on ongoing governance challenges, the evolving political landscape, and preparations for the upcoming national election. Advisers deliberated over the recently proposed July Charter and reform measures to ensure political inclusivity.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan left the meeting around 2:05pm, citing an urgent personal engagement. Before departing, she told reporters that election-related issues, the reform agenda, and the Charter were being discussed. However, she refrained from commenting on speculations about Yunus’s resignation.
Speculation about Chief Adviser Yunus’s potential resignation surfaced earlier this week, after he reportedly voiced frustration during an unannounced extended session with the Advisory Council on 22 May. According to a Samakal report citing unnamed advisers, officials, and student leaders, Yunus expressed concern over political deadlock and institutional non-cooperation.
He allegedly questioned whether continuing in his role was meaningful under such conditions. However, no formal statement or resignation was made at that time.
Despite the mounting challenges, today’s comments from Wahiduddin Mahmud suggest a unified stance within the interim government. “We are not going anywhere,” he reiterated. “We are committed to fulfilling the duties entrusted to us.”
The advisers present included law adviser Asif Nazrul, foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, home affairs adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, food adviser Ali Imam Majumder, power and energy adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, disaster management adviser Faruk E Azam, and youth adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, among others.
A press briefing is expected later to share the council’s conclusions and future direction.
The Yunus-led interim government was appointed amid political unrest, with the aim of ensuring a credible roadmap to national elections. While the advisory body continues to face pressure from various political factions, today’s remarks reinforce that Yunus and his team are determined to carry on.
