Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is not resigning from his position in the interim government, Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud confirmed Saturday, two days after news surfaced that Yunus might step down.
“The Chief Adviser is not going anywhere. He hasn’t said he is stepping down. Of course, he is staying,” Dr. Mahmud told reporters on Saturday after an unscheduled, closed-door meeting of the Advisory Council, held following the ECNEC meeting.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus, was attended by 19 advisers. It took place at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar around 12:20 PM.
Reiterating the council’s commitment, Dr. Mahmud said, “We’ve been given a significant responsibility, and we cannot abandon it. None of us are leaving before the work is done.”
When asked about possible obstacles to governance and reform, Dr. Mahmud said they were trying to identify where the barriers are — in ministries or elsewhere — as their main task is to create the conditions for a democratic and well-governed transition ahead of the national election.
He also called on all stakeholders to support the interim government. “We urge all forces of the mass movement and all state institutions to assist in achieving our objectives. This is not solely our responsibility — we did not come here voluntarily; we were given this duty.”
Regarding speculation about his own resignation, he clarified, “Some political groups have mentioned it, but I asked in the Council if it was a party position. I was told it wasn’t. If it were, it would contradict the very foundation of this government — which is supported by all forces of the mass movement.”
“If this role were meant to be enjoyable, we wouldn’t be here. But we’ve taken this on with a sense of duty, not for personal gain. We are not going anywhere,” he emphasized. Asked specifically whether resignation was discussed during the meeting, he responded, “No one is leaving until the job is done.”