Deep state wanted it, yet Muhammad Yunus and coordinating forces failed to stay in power until 2029

BD Digest Report

The discussion that has been going on in the political arena since the beginning about the possible long-term position of the former interim government has come to the fore again due to some recent statements by politicians and discussions in the local and foreign media. In particular, the issue has come up for discussion again due to the comments of former advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan.

He claimed that a ‘deep state’ had proposed an interim government to remain in power until 2029. However, the government did not agree to that proposal.

This statement, made at a discussion meeting of the National Citizens Party (NCP) at Bangla Motor in the capital, has sparked a fresh debate in political circles. The question has been raised – was there really such a plan, and if so, why was it not implemented?

Why couldn’t Dr. Muhammad Yunus remain in power until 2029? The former advisor’s statement has created curiosity in the political arena. When and under what conditions was such a proposal made, or who was meant by the ‘deep state’, that question is now coming to the fore.

Analysts believe that statements made by officials at various levels of Dr. Yunus’ interim government have hinted at a long-term stay in power in the past. In a statement on April 10, 2025, the then home affairs adviser to the government mentioned that a section of the public wanted to see them in power for a few more years.

Just two days later, on April 12, in another discussion, Farida Akhtar, then advisor to the interim government in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said that this government was formed by the ‘student-people’ and in their view it was a kind of mass-supported structure. Her comment suggested a different political interpretation of the legitimacy of an unelected government.

Taken together, these statements suggest that at least some circles within or around the interim government were considering long-term rule. Although, apart from Asif Mahmud, no other advisor to that government has so far directly said anything about the Deep State or a proposal to stay in power until 2029.

NCP convener and former advisor to the interim government, Nahid Islam, said at an event in Rajshahi on March 10 that “the deep state was involved in the assassination of Sharif Osman bin Hadi.” He also did not clearly state who the deep state was.

The term ‘deep state’ is generally used to refer to an influential group that is able to influence state policies and power from outside the government. It is not a formal structure, but a concept used in political discourse. The issue of the deep state has come into fresh discussion through the aforementioned statement by Asif Mahmud.

For the first time in more than a year and a half since she was ousted from power in August 2024, a statement by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sparked a stir in India. A new discussion has started in the Indian media surrounding a statement by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. The country’s top-tier and state-based media outlets are discussing and reviewing Sheikh Hasina’s statement.

In that speech, given on May 23, 2024, Sheikh Hasina mentioned a conspiracy to create a “Christian state like East Timor” with parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Recently, this statement has been brought up again, causing a storm of discussion in various Indian media. The Indian media has questioned why Sheikh Hasina made such a statement while she was the Prime Minister.

In her opening remarks at a meeting of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance at Ganabhaban on May 23, 2024, Sheikh Hasina said that a foreign power had proposed to build an airbase in Bangladesh. However, she did not explicitly name any country. In the same speech, she also said that a plot was underway to create a Christian state with a part of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

In Sheikh Hasina’s words, “The plot is still there. Taking a part of Bangladesh like East Timor… then Chittagong, Myanmar will create a Christian country here, and will set up a base in the Bay of Bengal.”

He further mentioned, “The reason for this is that trade and commerce has been going on in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean since ancient times. Many people have their eyes on this place. I will not allow that to happen. This is also my crime.” Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted from power within two and a half months of making this statement.

The media has always been saying that the US Deep State played a role in the student-led movement that ousted the Awami League government in 2024.

In the United States, the term “deep state” refers to a secret network of members of the federal government, especially FBI and CIA officers. This secret network consists of unelected public and private influential people. This network attempts to operate independently to implement its own goals and objectives, parallel to the political government.

That is, the Deep State refers to an organized circle of unelected individuals in a country who influence important decision-making in the state and uphold their own interests. The ‘Deep State’ in the United States is a concept or conspiracy theory by which state policy is controlled through secret networks of intelligence, military, and bureaucrats outside the elected government. In Bangladesh, the influence of the ‘Deep State’ has been debated in various political discussions in the past.

The role of this ‘deep state’ or invisible force in the change of power in Bangladesh or in making certain decisions has been widely discussed in political circles since the 2024 political change, which was also discussed in the media as the ‘deep state’s trick’ or ‘shadow state’. However, US President Donald Trump denied any role of the ‘deep state’ in the events of July-August 2024 in Bangladesh in February 2025.

However, Asif Mahmud told the media on Friday in reference to his statement yesterday, “During the first three-four-five months of the interim government, the Deep State made a proposal in various discussions that they were interested in keeping the interim government for a long time if some of their interests were protected. We were approached as part of the negotiations, maybe they talked to other advisors as well.”

Asif Mahmud claimed that the proposal also contained issues that would legitimize the Awami League’s rule. He said, “The interim government did not show interest in the Deep State’s proposal. The government was determined to hold elections. As a result, the government did not reach an agreement with them (the Deep State).”

The use of the term ‘deep state’ has taken on a new dimension in the case of the former government led by Muhammad Yunus. According to political analysts, the term ‘deep state’ usually refers to the hidden influential forces within the state that, while not directly visible, can play an important role in policymaking.

However, no impartial or verified evidence has yet been released on whether such a force actually intended to keep the government in power until 2029. As a result, the matter remains largely at the level of political rhetoric.

According to political observers, several factors prevented this potential plan from becoming a reality. Concerns about violence, extortion and so-called ‘mob culture’ continued to grow in various parts of the country. In particular, allegations of extortion against the ‘July coordinators’ further complicated the situation.

The political situation in Bangladesh has always been under the international spotlight. Various development partners and influential states attach importance to an acceptable and participatory election. According to analysts, the long-standing position of the unelected government raises questions about international acceptability. As a result, pressure is increasing to hold the 13th national parliamentary election to remove the government of Muhammad Yunus.

Although some quarters cited ‘popular support’ or ‘legitimacy of the coup’, the lack of an elected government created political pressure in the long term. Opposition political forces, especially the BNP, one of the country’s main parties, and a section of civil society were vocal in demanding elections.

Ultimately, political reality and the need for compromise between the various parties seemed to make an election inevitable. The BNP formed the government through this election. Considering the popularity of the BNP, foreign media outlets began to refer to Tarique Rahman as the future prime minister before the election.

The discussion that emerged about the possibility of the interim government remaining in power until 2029 was largely based on various statements, political explanations, and situational analysis. However, in reality, that path was not followed, with the law and order situation, international pressure, and questions of political legitimacy playing a significant role.

The question remains, was this really a well-organized plan, or was it part of a political statement? The answer depends on the release of more information and evidence in the future. Many believe that the interim government was offered a proposal from the ‘deep state’ to remain in power until 2029, and that the interim government did not accept this proposal, which Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan’s claim may be false.

Because, at one stage, the people of the country, including domestic and foreign powers and friendly countries, did not want to see the unpopular and controversial government led by Dr. Yunus in power anymore. They wanted to see a people-representative government through a controversy-free national election. In view of all this, the national parliament elections were held on February 12. In this, the BNP won by a landslide and formed the government.