A significant controversy has erupted in Bangladesh following reports that the former head of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, declared himself a “Very Very Important Person” (VVIP) shortly before relinquishing power. Despite the official nature of such a declaration, the specific gazette notification has reportedly vanished from the website of the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press), leading to intense public and media scrutiny.
The gazette, reportedly issued on 10 February 2026—just two days prior to the 13th National Parliamentary Elections—granted Dr Yunus elite security coverage from the Special Security Force (SSF) for one year following his departure from office.
Table of Contents
The Vanishing Document
Standard administrative protocol dictate that all government gazettes are uploaded to the BG Press website for public record and historical archiving. However, a digital search for this specific notification currently yields no results.
Addressing the discrepancy, Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Deputy Director of BG Press, informed the media that the institution simply follows government directives. “At times, issuing agencies request that certain orders are not made available on the public website. We have acted in accordance with such instructions in this instance,” he stated.
Legal Framework and Precedence
The controversy centres on the Special Security Force Act 2021. Under Section 12 of this Act, the interim administration issued the “President, Prime Minister or Chief Adviser and Very Very Important Person Security Rules 2025” on 23 December 2025. This provided the legal mechanism to designate Dr Yunus as a VVIP upon his exit.
Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to the former Chief Adviser, defended the move on social media, asserting that no laws were flouted. He argued that the SSF requires a formal procedural mandate to provide protection to former heads of government.
Historical and Legal Context of the Security Order:
| Key Date | Event / Action | Legal Instrument |
| 23 Dec 2025 | New security rules formulated | SSF Act 2021 (Section 12) |
| 10 Feb 2026 | Dr Yunus declared “VVIP” | Chief Adviser’s Office Gazette |
| 17 Feb 2026 | End of Interim Govt tenure | Swearing-in of PM Tarique Rahman |
| 28 Feb 2026 | Dr Yunus vacates official residence | Transition to private life |
| Current Status | 1-year SSF Protection | Active until February 2027 |
The Scope of VVIP Security
Under the 2025 rules, the Director General of the SSF is entrusted with the total security of the VVIP’s office and both permanent and temporary residences. This includes:
Disaster Management: Coordination with relevant agencies to protect against fire, earthquakes, and accidents.
Access Control: Strict monitoring of visitors, vehicles, and objects entering or exiting secure zones.
Weaponry Restrictions: A total ban on firearms at venues, except for uniformed security personnel or authorised SSF officers.
Military Liaison: The DG may consult with the Military Secretary to ensure seamless protection layers.
Political Implications
While supporters argue that a former leader of Dr Yunus’s international standing requires high-level protection—citing the precedent of Justice Latifur Rahman in 2001—critics view the “self-declaration” as an overreach of an interim mandate. Dr Yunus, who took the helm on 8 August 2024 following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, moved out of his official residence on 28 February.
The new government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the removal of the gazette from public view, leaving citizens to wonder whether the document was retracted or simply suppressed for security reasons.