Dhaka, Feb 23 — The political party Am Janata Dal has sharply criticized the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, calling his departure from office a “drama” and alleging that the administration borrowed Tk 4 lakh crore without implementing any major development projects.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the party’s Member Secretary Tarique Rahman accused the former chief adviser of staging a symbolic exit—walking in the rain with a small suitcase—as a public relations move while allegedly securing unprecedented personal business advantages during his time in office.
Rahman claimed that Yunus obtained multiple business licenses, evaded taxes amounting to Tk 666 crore, and reduced the government’s ownership share in Grameen Bank from 25 percent to 10 percent. He alleged that no previous head of government had taken such extensive business benefits in such a short period.
The Am Janata Dal leader also raised allegations of nepotism, claiming that individuals personally close to Yunus were appointed to advisory positions in the interim administration. He further criticized the government’s handling of injured protesters from the July mass uprising, alleging that many did not receive adequate medical treatment.
Debt and Economic Concerns
Highlighting economic data, Rahman stated that the previous Awami League government borrowed Tk 18 lakh crore over 17 years, averaging Tk 1.05 lakh crore annually. In contrast, he claimed the interim government borrowed Tk 4 lakh crore in just 18 months—equivalent to an annual average of Tk 2.22 lakh crore—despite not launching major infrastructure projects.
He further alleged that for the first time in four decades, the government had to borrow simply to finance routine expenditures during the 2024–25 fiscal year.
Additional allegations included Tk 14,000 crore in unpaid fuel bills in the power sector, failure to repay installments related to the Padma Bridge despite ongoing toll collection, and manipulation in the stock market.
Rahman also criticized rising living costs, claiming that the price of a 12-kg gas cylinder had surged to Tk 2,800 and that rice prices had moved beyond the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. He alleged that 3 million families had fallen into poverty and that 2.4 million people—including 1.8 million women—had become unemployed during the interim administration.
Law and Order Allegations
The statement further accused the government of failing to maintain law and order, citing several high-profile incidents of violence, including killings in Dhaka University, Banani, and Mymensingh, as well as alleged mob attacks and arson targeting industrial establishments.
Rahman claimed that factories belonging to major conglomerates such as Beximco and Gazi Group were attacked and destroyed without accountability. He also alleged that thousands of political activists were arrested in what he described as politically motivated and exaggerated cases.
There was no immediate response from Muhammad Yunus or representatives of the interim government regarding the allegations at the time of filing this report.
