Yunus ministry
An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed on 8 August 2024 in Bangladesh, following the Resignation of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024 amid nationwide protests against the government. Following the dissolution of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad on 6 August 2024, the interim cabinet will remain in office until a new Prime Minister is appointed after a snap general election. The government, like the previous non-caretaker government interim administrations, is extra-constitutional. However, Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh affirmed the legality of the stopgap government on 9 August 2024, stating that the doctrine of necessity created an urgent need to manage state affairs and address the constitutional vacuum, similar to previous cases. The main pledge of his ministry is to forge consensus about and implement fundamental reforms that are required to hold a free and fair general election and a constitutional referendum on the July Charter alongside the election on 12 February 2026.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus and his council of advisers at Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. The cabinet currently consists of 1 Chief Adviser, 20 Advisers, 8 Special positions under the Chief Adviser's office and 5 Special assistant to the Chief Adviser with the status of Minister of State. The Jamuna State Guest House is serving as the official residence of the Chief Adviser.
Background
On 5 August 2024, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina resigned and went on a self-imposed exile to India amidst a nationwide uprising. Initially focused on issues such as quota reforms, the movement gradually intensified following reports of violence and mass casualties. The uprising, later referred to as the July Revolution, culminated in calls for Sheikh Hasina and her cabinet to step down. The movement was widely perceived as pro-democratic in nature.Following her resignation, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman and President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the formation of an interim government. The president initiated discussions with political leaders across the country and dissolved the parliament on 6 August 2024. The Students Against Discrimination, lead organisation of the uprising, proposed economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was then residing in Paris, to head the interim government. Yunus accepted the proposal, and the interim government was finalized on 7 August 2024.
Formation and timeline
8 August 2024
- Muhammad Yunus was appointed by the President Mohammed Shahabuddin as the Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh.
- 16 individuals were also appointed as advisers to the interim government by the President:
- # Salehuddin Ahmed
- # Asif Nazrul
- # Adilur Rahman Khan
- # A. F. Hassan Ariff
- # Md. Touhid Hossain
- # Rizwana Hasan
- # Sharmeen Murshid
- # Faruk-e-Azam
- # M Sakhawat Hussain
- # Supradip Chakma
- # Bidhan Ranjan Roy
- # A F M Khalid Hossain
- # Farida Akhter
- # Nurjahan Begum
- # Nahid Islam
- # Asif Mahmud
- Yunus was sworn in by the President at the Bangabhaban. Along with him, 13 of the 16 appointed advisers also took the oath, also administered by the President. It was announced that the remaining three advisers—Supradip Chakma, Bidhan Ranjan Roy, and Faruk-e-Azam would take their oaths at a later time. The oath ceremony was attended by national and international guests, including several ambassadors and the chiefs of the armed forces of Bangladesh—the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff. Senior political figures from various political parties were also present, alongside many other distinguished guests.
9 August 2024
- The distribution of ministries and divisions was made public. A total of 27 ministries and divisions were assigned to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. One ministry was assigned to each of the other 13 advisers.
11 August 2024
- Supradip Chakma and Bidhan Ranjan Roy were sworn in as advisers by the President.
- Following their appointment, the responsibility for ministries and divisions was redistributed among Yunus, Chakma and Roy. One ministry was allocated to each of the two advisers, resulting in 25 ministries and divisions being managed by the Chief Adviser.
13 August 2024
- Faruk-e-Azam, was sworn in as adviser.
- Following his appointment, a redistribution of ministries and divisions was carried out between Yunus and Faruk. Faruk was assigned a ministry, resulting in 24 ministries and divisions being managed by the Chief Adviser.
- Shafiqul Alam, a seasoned journalist and Bangladesh Bureau Chief of Agence France-Presse was appointed as Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser with status of a Secretary.
14 August 2024
- Lamiya Morshed, executive director of Yunus Centre and Grameen Healthcare Trust, was appointed as Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals Affairs with the status of a Senior Secretary.
16 August 2024
- Additional four Advisers—Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ali Imam Majumder, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Jahangir Alam Chowdhury were appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and were sworn in on the same day.
- Following their appointment, a redistribution of ministries and divisions was carried out between the Chief Adviser and all the Advisers. A total of 10 ministries and divisions were taken charge of by the Chief Adviser. Responsibilities for one ministry each were assigned to many of the other advisers, while some advisers were assigned multiple ministries.
- Ali Imam Majumder was appointed as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, a role equivalent to an adviser. In the official document, his role is described as being "Attached to the Office of the Chief Adviser".
22 August 2024
- Abdul Hafiz was appointed as Special Assistant to Chief Adviser on Defense and Natrional Integration, a role equivalent to an adviser.
27 August 2024
- A redistribution of ministries and divisions was carried out between Chief Adviser and four other advisers, resulting in 6 ministries and divisions being managed by the Chief Adviser.
28 August 2024
- Mahfuj Alam, a Liaison Committee Coordinator of Students Against Discrimination was appointed as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser with the status of a secretary.
4 September 2024
- Lutfey Siddiqui was appointed as Chief Adviser's Envoy on International Affairs, a role equivalent to an adviser.
10 November 2024
- Mahfuj Alam, Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki were appointed and sworn in as Advisers by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
- Following their appointment a redistribution of ministries and division was carried out, resulting in four ministries and divisions under the Chief Adviser.
- Former Inspector General of Police Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Md Sayedur Rahman and M Aminul Islam were appointed as Special Assistant to the Interim Government with the status of Minister of State. They were also given Executive Power over Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Education respectively.
19 November 2024
- Khalilur Rahman, a former UN official and current member of board of trustees of East West University was appointed as High Representative to the Chief Adviser on Rohingya Issues and Priority Affairs.
21 November 2024
- President Mohammed Shahabuddin, appointed AMM Nasir Uddin, a former Secretary as the Chief Election Commissioner and four other Election Commissioners.
20 December 2024
- Adviser A. F. Hassan Ariff dies while being in office.
- Ministry of Land and Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the two ministries under Adviser A. F. Hassan Ariff are shifted to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
20 January 2025
- Ali Imam Majumder was given the responsibility of Ministry of Land as additional duty.
6 February 2025
- Monir Haidar, a journalist was appointed as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Consensus Building with the status equivalent to a Senior Secretary.
17 February 2025
- President Mohammed Shahabuddin amended Rules of Business to include Matters relating to July Mass Uprising under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
18 February 2025
- Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, got promoted to the status of Senior Secretary.
25 February 2025
- Nahid Islam resigned as Adviser to join new political party.
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, the two ministries under Adviser Nahid Islam are shifted to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
26 February 2025
- Mahfuj Alam was shifted from Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, a role equivalent to an adviser to Adviser of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
5 March 2025
- Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar was appointed and sworn in as Adviser by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
- Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar was assigned as Adviser of Ministry of Education, a ministry previously managed by Wahiduddin Mahmud.
- Sheikh Moin Uddin and Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb were appointed as Special Assistant with the status Minister of State of and were assigned to Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology respectively.
10 March 2025
- M Aminul Islam resigned as Special Assistant for Ministry of Education.
- Anisuzzaman Chowdhury appointed as Special Assistant for Ministry of Finance.
7 April 2025
- Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority was granted the status of Minister of State.