During his 18 months in power, Dr Muhammad Yunus allegedly secured benefits solely for himself. He is accused of abusing his authority to have corruption cases against him withdrawn and of waiving interest on loans owed by his own institutions.
While in power, he is also said to have obtained a university and a recruiting agency licence in his own name. Even prior to stepping down, he did not, critics claim, refrain from securing state privileges for himself.
Two days before the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Professor Muhammad Yunus declared himself a ‘Very Important Person’ (VIP) for a period of one year. As a result, he will receive security protection from the Special Security Force (SSF) for the next year.
According to a gazette notification signed by Md Saifullah Panna, then Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office (now attached to the Ministry of Public Administration), the government, exercising powers under the Special Security Force Act, declared Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, a VIP for one year from the date of handing over his responsibility.
In doing so, the former Chief Adviser is alleged to have acted dishonestly. The ordinance, issued confidentially by Dr Yunus, amended SRO No. 285 dated 29 October 2006. That order had stipulated that the President, Prime Minister and Chief Adviser of a non-party caretaker government would be accorded VIP status within Bangladesh for a maximum of three months from the date of leaving office. The Leader of the Opposition would receive the same status from the date the caretaker Chief Adviser assumed office.
Under this amended provision, Dr Yunus declared only himself a VIP for one year, without extending the same timeframe to others previously covered by the order. Under the Constitution of Bangladesh, laws are not to be enacted or amended for the benefit of a specific individual. Therefore, critics argue that the ordinance issued confidentially on 10 February constitutes a violation of fundamental constitutional principles and is thus unconstitutional.
They further contend that had the extension applied to the outgoing President, Prime Minister and all others mentioned in the earlier law, some justification might have been inferred. However, declaring only himself a VIP for a further year is described not merely as unethical, but as a clear breach of the Constitution.
