Senior journalist Masood Kamal has unleashed a torrent of criticism against three key advisers in the Jamaat-controlled interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, portraying them as symbols of inefficiency and callousness amid what he described as a “state-sponsored mobocracy” that has gripped Bangladesh since the 2024 changeover.
Kamal, a seasoned media figure with over three decades of experience, argued that the advisers’ recent statements expose a cabinet ill-equipped to govern, exacerbating public fears over security, economic mismanagement, and electoral integrity just weeks before the February 12 national polls.
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His commentary comes against the backdrop of ongoing allegations that the Yunus regime has enabled mob rule since the July-August 2024 events, which saw widespread looting of police stations, attacks on institutions, and the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Critics, including opposition figures and rights groups, have accused the administration of selective crackdowns—targeting Awami League affiliates while failing to restore law and order—fueling a climate of impunity and instability. “From the very day Dr. Yunus’s government assumed power on August 8, 2024, I have said these people are not qualified to run a country,” Kamal stated, labelling the advisers as “inexperienced, elderly, incompetent amateurs.”
Home Adviser Jahangir
Focusing first on Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Kamal ridiculed the official’s assurance that weapons looted from police stations during the 2024 unrest would not be used to disrupt the upcoming elections. Quoting Chowdhury verbatim: “Some of those weapons have not yet been recovered. But I can promise you that these weapons will not be used during the election.” Kamal questioned the basis of this “promise,” asking, “Has he had a phone conversation with those who looted the weapons, telling them, ‘You can’t use these’?”
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He highlighted the failure of two “Devil Hunt” operations, which he claimed prioritised arresting Awami League members over arms recovery, leaving the public in “tension” amid unaddressed security threats. This inefficiency, Kamal implied, exemplifies the regime’s callous disregard for public safety in a mobocracy where looted arms remain at large.
Commerce Adviser Bashir
Turning to Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, son of the late biri magnate Sheikh Bashir Uddin Aki, Kamal dissected a campaign speech in Netrokona, where the adviser criticised the Padma Bridge as a “bad investment.” Uddin argued that diverting the bridge’s funds to irrigation could have reduced rice prices by Tk5 per kg, while debt repayment has allegedly driven up costs by Tk20. “What benefit have we gained from this?” he asked.
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Kamal mocked this as the logic of a “shopkeeper,” not a statesman, emphasising that governments prioritise public welfare over profit. “Do you know how many people cross the Padma Bridge daily? At minimum, over 100,000… saving 2-3 hours per trip,” Kamal retorted, calculating the massive time savings in work hours. He accused Uddin of treating infrastructure like a biri business ledger, ignoring how the bridge facilitates faster rice transport from southern districts to Dhaka, benefiting farmers with lower costs and better prices. In the context of post-July economic turmoil—marked by inflation, factory closures, and alleged looting—Kamal portrayed this as callous incompetence, warning that such advisers risk further alienating the public.
Health Adviser Nurjahan
Kamal reserved lighter, yet pointed, sarcasm for Health Adviser and Yunus’ long-time confidante Nurjahan Begum, questioning her qualifications beyond her Grameen Bank tenure and proximity to Yunus. During a “Yes” vote campaign, Nurjahan suggested organising melas (fairs) near polling stations to boost voter turnout: “If possible, arrange melas nearby… People will come to the mela, enjoy, do some buying and selling, and while there, cast their vote.”
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Kamal labelled this “madness,” asking: “How many kinds of madness have you seen in the world?” He called her ideas “expired” and outdated, unfit for reforming a nation. Amid accusations of the regime manipulating elections—excluding the banned Awami League and amid fears of violence, this proposal underscores a callous detachment from serious electoral concerns, Kamal argued, reducing democracy to a carnival gimmick in a mob-ruled environment.
Kamal concluded by lamenting the nation’s “misfortune” in being “in their hands,” urging patience for the remaining three weeks until elections. “May Allah grant you the patience to bear it,” he prayed. The podcast has sparked widespread social media buzz, with users echoing Kamal’s sentiments and sharing memes of the advisers’ gaffes.
Such critiques amplify calls for accountability, highlighting how the Yunus administration’s alleged sponsorship of mob elements—through unchecked looting and partisan operations—has compounded governance failures. With polls looming, observers warn that these inefficiencies could further erode public trust in the regime’s ability to deliver fair elections or stability.
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