Dhaka: Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has come under sustained criticism during his 17-month tenure, with detractors frequently describing him as an “unelected” leader and a “darling of the West,” according to a report.
The report draws parallels between Yunus and Venezuelan political figure Maria Corina Machado, also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, noting that neither has secured a direct public mandate in their respective countries. In Machado’s case, critics argue that strong US backing reflects an attempt to install a compliant government in Venezuela.
According to the analysis published by Eurasia Review, observers see similarities between the political unrest in Bangladesh and long-standing allegations in Venezuela that foreign powers, including the US, have sought to engineer regime change. The report claims that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is viewed by some as a victim of such interference, much like Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has long accused Washington of plotting his removal. In this backdrop, the report suggests that the Nobel Peace Prize is increasingly being viewed as a political instrument rather than a purely humanitarian honour.
The report further alleges that soon after Yunus assumed office as Chief Advisor, questions of conflict of interest arose over rapid government approvals that benefited institutions linked to Grameen Bank, which he founded. It cited tax waivers worth hundreds of crores of taka, extended tax exemptions, reduced government shareholding, and expedited licences for Grameen-affiliated entities as decisions that created perceptions of bias and misuse of state authority.
As head of the interim government, Yunus’s principal mandate was to oversee free and fair elections, the report noted. However, it alleged that instead he prioritised foreign interests over national concerns. Proposals involving foreign control of strategic assets such as Chittagong Port and controversial geopolitical initiatives presented as humanitarian measures were cited as reasons critics labelled him a “puppet” leader acting to appease external powers rather than serve citizens.
Referring to Machado, the report stated that her alleged efforts to curry favour with the US President by offering to share her Nobel Prize following the capture of President Maduro by American forces had reinforced such comparisons. It added that many in Bangladesh now place Yunus and Machado in the same category—leaders accused of bypassing elections and aligning with foreign powers instead of seeking legitimacy through popular mandate.
With inputs from IANS