Two student advisors resigned

Two student representatives, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Mahfuz Alam, have resigned from the Interim Government’s Advisory Council. They formally submitted their resignation letters to Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus during a meeting on Wednesday (December 10) evening. Responsible government sources have confirmed the matter.

Among the resigning advisors, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan was in charge of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Mahfuz Alam, on the other hand, was performing duties for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Press Briefing: Sources indicate that the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing has called an emergency press conference to formally announce the resignation of the two advisors. A detailed briefing on this matter will be held today, Wednesday, at 6:15 PM.

Underlying Reasons and Context: Responsible government sources reveal that the issue of the two student representatives’ resignation was discussed at the weekly meeting of the Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, with senior advisors at Jamuna yesterday, Tuesday (December 9). A general consensus was established among the government’s high-level officials and many members of the Advisory Council that student representatives should not remain in the government after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming national election—regardless of whether they participate in the election or not.

Earlier, in mid-September, Asif Mahmud and Mahfuz Alam were advised by the top echelons of the government to resign. They had requested some more time then. Mahfuz Alam had expressed his desire to stay until the end of the government’s tenure and also stated that he would not contest the election. However, the urge for them to resign was renewed in the middle of last month. Finally, they stepped down just before the election schedule announcement.

It is noteworthy that the interim government was formed under the leadership of Dr. Yunus on August 8, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 of last year. Three student representatives who led the July mass uprising were included in the government.