Nearly a year has passed since Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus publicly vowed to disclose the asset statements of his interim cabinet members, yet not a single adviser’s wealth declaration has been published.
The question remains: When will the government deliver?
In his first address to the nation on August 25, just three weeks after assuming office, Yunus promised swift and full disclosure of asset details from all his advisers, signaling a tough stance against corruption.
That promise, 11 months on, is still hanging in the air.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said last week that all members of the advisory council have already submitted their asset statements to the Cabinet Division and that there is no reason to delay their publication.
“We did not submit them to be hidden away in a drawer,” Asif told a talk show. “We submitted them to be released.”
When contacted, Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid confirmed that while the declarations have been received, there has been no order from above to make them public.
After being asked if a decision to release the documents has been taken, he simply replied: “No.”
He also declined to comment on the status of asset declarations by government employees.
The delay has sparked criticism, particularly from members of the very reform commissions the government set up.
Iftekharuzzaman, member of the National Consensus Commission and head of the anti-corruption reform panel, expressed disappointment, calling it “a failure to honor a commitment made to the nation.”
He emphasized that such transparency could have set a positive precedent for future administrations.
Only one former adviser, Nahid Islam, has publicly disclosed their assets — after resigning from the post.
On February 26, a day after stepping down to lead the National Citizen Party (NCP), Nahid published his government-issued Sonali Bank account statement on Facebook, showing all transactions from August 21 to his resignation date.
In contrast, another adviser, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, explained that he could not file his asset report due to lacking a one-year-old Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), a requirement under existing regulations.
He said he was a student before joining the cabinet and only recently became eligible to file taxes. “I hope to submit a formal report next year,” he said.
The controversy also sheds light on another unresolved issue: the asset declarations of government officials.
On September 1, the Ministry of Public Administration instructed all government employees to submit five years’ worth of asset data.
Although deadlines were extended multiple times, most recently to February 15, there has been no follow-up or disclosure about compliance.
Iftekharuzzaman, also executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said the interim government has missed a critical opportunity to demonstrate ethical governance and build trust.
“Had they followed through, it would have been a matter of pride and a standard for the next government to follow,” he said.
“Instead, they have denied themselves that legacy.”
