Senior journalist and political commentator Masud Kamal has sparked a national debate by asserting that the Chief Adviser of the recently departed interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, should face legal prosecution for allegedly violating the national constitution. These remarks come in the wake of explosive revelations regarding the operational nature of the interim administration.
Table of Contents
Allegations of Constitutional Overreach
Speaking on his popular YouTube channel, ‘Kotha’, on Tuesday, Kamal argued that if a leader at the highest level of governance is permitted to bypass the supreme law of the land without consequence, it sets a dangerous and “evil precedent.”
Kamal’s commentary was prompted by a revelatory two-part interview with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, recently published in the national daily Kaler Kantho. In the interview, the President reportedly suggested that the Chief Adviser and his team did not adhere to specific constitutional provisions during their tenure.
“The President himself has indicated in his interview that the Chief Adviser of the interim government did not follow the mandates of the Constitution. I believe that for this reason alone, a case for constitutional violation should be filed against Dr Yunus,” Kamal stated.
A Quest for Accountability
Masud Kamal emphasised that the interim government had repeatedly claimed to be a “constitutional” body. He noted that every member of the advisory council, including Dr Yunus, took a formal oath before the President to uphold and protect the Constitution.
Kamal argued that the 18-month tenure of the interim government must now be scrutinised. He called for a thorough investigation into every instance where the law was allegedly “trampled upon” by the advisers. “If you do not bring them to justice today, it will remain an example that the Constitution can be disregarded at will,” he warned.
Key Points of Contention
The following table summarises the core arguments presented by Masud Kamal regarding the interim administration:
| Subject | Argument / Allegation |
| Legal Basis | The government operated outside the specific framework of the Constitution. |
| Breach of Oath | Advisers swore to uphold the law but allegedly bypassed it in practice. |
| President’s Testimony | President Shahabuddin’s interview serves as a primary source of the allegations. |
| Precedent | Failure to prosecute may encourage future administrations to ignore the law. |
| Scope of Liability | Responsibility should extend to all advisers involved in 18 months of governance. |
Praising Journalistic Courage
During his broadcast, Kamal extended his gratitude to Kaler Kantho for publishing the President’s “courageous” interview. He suggested that such transparency is vital for the public to understand the internal mechanics of the state during a transitional period.
The veteran journalist concluded by insisting that the dignity and independence of the judiciary depend on its ability to hold even the most influential figures accountable to the “Supreme Book” of the nation—the Constitution of Bangladesh.
