Even after resigning, Asif and Mahfuz appeared at the official residence

Last year, on 10 December, student representatives Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiya and Mahfuz Alam submitted their resignations to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus from the Advisory Council. At the time, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing announced that the resignations would be formally accepted once the election schedule was declared. The very next day, 11 December, the schedule for the 13th National Parliament elections and the general vote was officially announced.

Despite stepping down, both Asif and Mahfuz have continued to reside in government accommodation for over 50 days.

Meanwhile, Asif Mahmud has taken up the role of Chairman and Spokesperson of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Election Management Committee. However, despite claiming to have vacated the government residence and moved to a private home, reports from 28 January indicate that he still uses Niloy-6. A duty officer at the property confirmed, “Sir is here; he has not left the house.” Another officer added, “He conducts activities here, brings people, and continues to use the house.” Nevertheless, the former adviser reportedly spends most of his time at his private residence.

Mahfuz Alam resides at a duplex bungalow, Uttorayon-3, on Hair Road. When asked about when he would vacate the property, he assured journalists that he would leave before the elections. The 30-year-old former adviser stated that the housing policy does not stipulate a precise timeframe for vacating, but he intended to comply prior to the vote.

Government Housing Department Director Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed that there is no clear directive regarding the departure of former advisers. “The housing policy allows government officials to stay for up to two months post-retirement, extendable to six months if children are still studying. However, there is no defined timeframe for ministers or advisers,” he explained. He further noted that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Secretary, and future action will follow ministerial instructions.

The question of ethics has arisen, as both Asif and Mahfuz continue to occupy government residences despite resigning from official posts. Former Secretary and ex-Rector of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, A.K.M. Abdul Awal Majumdar, remarked, “Historically, figures like Kazi Zafar Ahmed vacated government housing immediately after resignation. Politicians today should uphold similar standards. Their continued occupancy demonstrates a regression in ethical practice.”

For context, Asif Mahmud served in the interim government formed on 8 August 2024, following the public uprising on 5 August, handling the Ministry of Local Government and Youth & Sports. Mahfuz Alam, appointed initially as Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on 28 August 2024, took oath as an adviser on 10 November 2024 and later assumed responsibilities as Information Adviser in February 2025 after Nahid Islam’s resignation.

Despite their resignations, questions over ethical propriety remain, highlighting a persistent grey area in Bangladesh’s governance and housing protocols for former officials.