Special Correspondent ; Dhaka- The VVIP (Very Very Important Person) status of Professor Muhammad Yunus, former Chief Adviser of the interim government, has been reduced by six months.
According to high-level government sources, Dr. Yunus will no longer hold this status after August 10, after which he will lead his life as a regular citizen of Bangladesh.
Multiple officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the initial one-year duration of his VVIP security detail was halved.
Consequently, the Special Security Force (SSF) protection currently provided to him will be withdrawn following the August deadline.
Background of the VVIP Declaration
Just days before stepping down, Dr. Yunus had declared himself a VVIP. A gazette notification in this regard was issued on February 10, only two days before the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Interestingly, that gazette is no longer available on the official website of the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press), where government notifications are typically archived.
Security Entitlements
The original notification, signed by the then-Chief Adviser’s Office Secretary Md. Saifullah Panna, stated that under the Special Security Force Act, Dr. Yunus would be treated as a VVIP for one year following his handover of power.
Under these “VVIP Security Rules 2025,” the Nobel Laureate has been receiving:
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SSF Protection: SSF personnel are currently stationed at his residence and workplace.
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Event Security: Mandatory security screenings at any event he attends.
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Travel Protocol: Security coordination by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies during domestic and international travels.
Following the July 2024 uprising and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, Dr. Yunus took oath as Chief Adviser on August 8.
His tenure officially concluded on February 17, 2024, when the Prime Minister of the newly elected government was sworn in.