Massive corruption scandal in Yunus regime
Bangladesh’s interim regime under Muhammad Yunus, as anticipated, is now undergoing one of its gravest credibility crises as shocking evidence of corruption, abuse of power, and outright plunder emerges against controversial adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
Accused of inflating project costs by billions of taka, orchestrating extortion rackets, and even indulging in drug-fueled parties, Bhuyain has become a symbol of the rot at the heart of the Yunus administration – raising questions about whether the so-called “reformist” government is nothing more than a kleptocratic regime shielding criminals under its wings.
Serious allegations have surfaced against Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, one of the key figures behind last year’s Jihadist Coup in Bangladesh. He has been accused of massive corruption centering a development project where he reportedly pressured the Yunus regime’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to increase the cost of constructing mini-stadiums by Tk 12 billion – an astonishing 158 percent hike.
Reports published by Bengali daily Kaler Kantho and commentary from senior journalist Monjurul Alam Panna claim Bhuyain has been involved in extortion, free-style looting of public wealth, and criminal activities under the shield of the regime.
According to official records, the proposal for revising the mini-stadium project was placed before ECNEC on August 17, 2025. While several members of the advisory council opposed it, Bhuyain, who oversees the Youth and Sports Ministry, pushed it through without resistance from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Originally, the project consisted of 186 mini-stadiums, of which 131 were already completed. The revised proposal increased the number to 201, while drastically inflating the per-unit cost from Tk 8.86 crore to Tk 14 crore.
Extortion rackets under political cover
Bhuyain’s criminal ties run deeper. Jane Alam Apu, a student leader linked to last year’s coup, confessed under arrest that Bhuyain had instructed them to extort Tk 10 million from a businessman in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. The adviser allegedly met with the students near Hotel Westin at 4 a.m. on July 16 to provide direct instructions.
When questioned by the media about his late-night activities, Bhuyain dismissed the allegations with a bizarre excuse, claiming he frequently visits Gulshan for duck curry with friends.
Further controversy erupted when a viral video showed Bhuyain engaging in drug use – phensedyl and cannabis – at his official residence, accompanied by friends including Dr. Tasnim Jara, a senior leader of the Yunus-backed National Citizen Party (NCP).
Despite aspiring to contest the upcoming polls from Cumilla’s Muradnagar constituency, Bhuyain has refused to resign from his advisory role, sparking accusations of conflict of interest.
Family ties to corruption
Bhuyain’s father, Billal Hossain, a schoolteacher by profession, has also been implicated in corruption. He secured a lucrative contractor’s license from the LGED Ministry – controlled by his son – before being forced to surrender it following media scrutiny.
The project in question, initially launched by the Awami League as the Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium initiative, aimed to build a stadium in every upazila. In the first phase (2016–2019), 131 stadiums were built at a cost of Tk 5.1 million each. The second phase was intended to construct 55 more stadiums between 2019–2021, but under Bhuyain’s influence, costs skyrocketed and the scope expanded beyond feasibility.
Corruption spreads to the health sector
Parallel allegations are shaking Bangladesh’s health sector. Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, a long-time associate of Yunus, faces mounting criticism for incompetence, nepotism, and large-scale corruption. Despite scandals involving her personal officers, she has maintained her post and continues to deny wrongdoing.
Experts warn that the abrupt cancellation of Bangladesh’s long-standing five-year operational plans (OPs) – a cornerstone of healthcare delivery since 1998 – has paralyzed the system. Nearly 25,000 health workers remain jobless or unpaid, and essential services such as vaccination, maternal care, and disease prevention have collapsed.
Adding to the scandal, Nurjahan’s private secretaries, Dr. Mahmudul Hassan and Tuhin Farabi, allegedly embezzled hundreds of crores through bribes for appointments and transfers of doctors, civil surgeons, and medical college principals. Bribes ranged between Tk 200,000 and Tk 2.5 million per posting. Reports suggest Mahmud smuggled a fortune abroad and is now residing in Russia.
A regime built on deception
Despite overwhelming evidence, the Yunus regime has consistently denied corruption allegations while weaponizing the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Awami League leaders. Anti-graft campaigners argue that the administration is shielding its own advisers while targeting political rivals with fabricated charges.
A top BNP leader recently alleged – citing intelligence sources – that at least eight advisers of the interim government are directly involved in massive corruption.
The unfolding scandals surrounding Asif Mahmud Bhuyain and Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum expose a grim reality: Muhammad Yunus’s regime, once projected as a “savior of democracy”, has rapidly degenerated into a kleptocratic syndicate of corrupt advisers, extortionists, and opportunists.
While ordinary citizens suffer from collapsing healthcare and skyrocketing project costs, the ruling clique enriches itself with impunity. The longer this culture of impunity persists, the deeper Bangladesh risks sinking into an era of institutionalized plunder and betrayal – an outcome that the people of this nation can neither afford nor forgive.
