Veteran journalist and political commentator M.A. Aziz has launched a scathing attack on the constitutional validity and motives of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, claiming it lacks proper legal reference and is effectively under foreign (primarily American) control.
Speaking on Kaler Kanthoโs YouTube talk show aired on Thursday, Aziz argued that the current administration is heading toward either indefinite delay of elections or no elections at all.
โNo Document, No Referenceโ
Aziz quoted Jamaat lawyer Shishir Monir as stating that the interim government has โno referenceโ and is therefore illegal. While the government cites Article 106 of the Constitution and the Doctrine of Necessity to justify its existence, Aziz insisted that no documentary proof has ever been produced.
โWho exactly gave the reference under Article 106? Which judges? Who filed the petition? Where is the letter from the High Court requesting the reference? Till todayโnothing,โ Aziz said, adding that even the Appellate Divisionโs endorsement lacks transparency because the judiciary itself collapsed under mob pressure in August 2024.
Missing Cantonment List and Fleeing Judges
The journalist repeatedly demanded the full list of individuals who reportedly took shelter in cantonments on August 5, 2024. Although the Army Chief had earlier mentioned 926 persons, and ISPR later released a partial list containing judges and university officials, Aziz claimed the government had never disclosed the complete document.
A Fake Election Sans Awami League: How Prof Yunus is Talibanising Bangladesh
Rights body, Chittagong Port workers slam Yunus for leasing key terminals to foreigners
Ex-army officer BNPโs Abdul Hoque calls for annexing Indiaโs Seven Sisters
โPeople are still fleeing to India one by one. We have the right to know who they are,โ he asserted.
Historical Precedents and Future Vacuum
Drawing parallels with past regimes, Aziz recalled that when Sheikh Hasina assumed power, her government attempted to declare the Ershad and Ziaur Rahman eras illegal but stopped short of creating a total governmental vacuum. He warned that the next elected parliament could easily annul all ordinances and actions of the current interim setup, rendering the past 16 months constitutionally void.
Foreigners at the Helm
In one of the strongest sections of his critique, Aziz claimed the interim government is being run by foreign nationals and dual citizens, particularly Americans.
โAlmost all key advisers are either US citizens or hold dual citizenship. Dr. Yunus himself is surrounded by hired foreign consultants. This is a foreign-led interim government,โ he declared, alleging secret agreements have already handed over two ports to American interests.
Secret Deals, Ports, and Future US Military Bases?
Aziz raised alarm over what he called โsecret deals with America,โ stating that two ports have already been transferred and there is no guarantee that a โhumanitarian corridorโ or even US military facilities will not follow.
โAmerica has bases in 80 countries, but none yet in South Asia. Nothing in any agreement says they cannot establish bases here. They will complete their agenda and then decide whether elections are held,โ he warned.
Elections Unlikely: Jamaatโs Demands Met, Forces Divided
The veteran journalist predicted that national elections originally promised for late 2025 or early 2026 will either be indefinitely postponed or cancelled altogether.
Ex-army officer Hasinurโs anti-India remarks ignite fears of regional instability
Leaked audio exposes Jamaatโs election rigging plan using Islami Bank officials
Radical Islamists renew threat against secularism, Bengali nationalism
โThe forces behind the July-August uprising are divided. Jamaat-e-Islamiโs key demandโproportional representation in the lower houseโhas already been accepted. The July Charter carries BNPโs note of dissent. Jamaat has no further public demands yet remains on the streets. Their Nayeb-e-Ameer recently met Ajit Doval in Indiaโnobody knows what was agreed,โ Aziz said, adding that Jamaatโs current agitation suggests they do not want elections.
From โLifetime Ruleโ to Election Ambitions
Aziz mocked the shifting rhetoric of the advisers, who only months ago were publicly urging Dr. Yunus to โstay for five years, ten years, or for life.โ Now, he claimed, Dr. Yunus himself appears to be contemplating contesting elections to avoid being โcondemnedโ by history, especially with warnings of impending famine and zero funding sources.
โIMFโs last loan tranche is stuck because conditions were not met. How will they manage next yearโs crisis?โ he asked.
Survey Predictions: BNP 40%, Jamaat 36%
Citing recent World Bank and IRI polls, Aziz said BNP is projected at 40% and Jamaat at 36%, with the remaining 24โ30% undecided vote likely to be decisive. He dismissed localised surveys, noting that results vary dramatically by districtโAwami League dominates Gopalganj, Jamaat leads in Satkhira, and BNP in Bogura.
Personally giving the interim government โzero marks,โ Aziz nevertheless cautioned that foreign surveys cannot be entirely ignored.
Concluding his appearance, M.A. Aziz painted a grim picture: a constitutionally questionable regime allegedly serving foreign interests, secretly handing over strategic assets, and steering the country away from timely democratic restoration.
โThe perception on the street is clearโthere will be no election, or it will be delayed indefinitely,โ he said.