Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Yunus’s ‘VVIP’ Security Gazette

A significant controversy has emerged regarding the post-tenure security arrangements for Professor Muhammad Yunus, the former Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government. Investigations reveal that a gazette notification, reportedly issued on 10 February—just two days before the 13th National Parliamentary Elections—declared Professor Yunus a "Very Very Important Person" (VVIP), granting him elite security for one year after leaving office. However, this document has mysteriously vanished from the official website of the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press).

The Vanishing Gazette

Standard administrative protocol in Bangladesh dictates that all government gazettes be archived and made publicly accessible via the BG Press website. The absence of this specific notification has raised transparency concerns.

Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Deputy Director of BG Press, addressed the anomaly by stating that the omission was intentional and based on specific government directives. "Occasionally, issuing agencies request that certain gazette copies not be uploaded to the website. we have simply followed those instructions in this instance," he explained to the media.

Legal Framework and Executive Privileges

The gazette was reportedly signed by Md. Saifullah Panna, the then-Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office. It invoked powers under Section 2(a) of the Special Security Force (SSF) Act 2021, designating Professor Yunus as a VVIP for a 12-month period effective from his date of departure.

Following the inauguration of the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on 17 February, Professor Yunus’s term officially concluded. Under the newly minted "President, Prime Minister or Chief Adviser and VVIP Security Rules 2025," this designation entitles him to comprehensive protection by the Special Security Force (SSF).

Key Provisions of the VVIP Security Rules 2025:

Precedent or Power Play?

Defending the move, Shafiqul Alam, the former Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, argued that the order was a procedural necessity rather than a breach of law. In a social media statement, he noted that the SSF requires formal authorization to protect a former head of government. He cited the year 2001, when Justice Latifur Rahman received similar provisions upon exiting his caretaker role, suggesting the move is not without historical precedent.

Professor Yunus, who took the helm on 8 August 2024 following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration, vacated his official residence on 28 February. While his supporters view the elite security as a vital necessity given the volatile political climate, critics question the "self-appointment" nature of the gazette and its subsequent removal from public digital records.