Five years in power promotion raises fresh questions, ‘rented support’ around chief advisor

Staff Reporter

The slogan targeting President Dr. Muhammad Yunus after Eid prayers at the National Eidgah—”Sir, stay for five more years”—was heard again this morning during the Eid-ul-Adha prayers. The same scene had unfolded during the previous Eid-ul-Fitr as well. Both Eids saw the same group behind the slogan, the same planning, and an investigation has revealed a well-organized attempt to create ‘fake support’ in exchange for money.

The repeated use of such political tactics during a religious and national occasion like Eid has raised fresh questions about the transparency and spontaneity of the so-called ‘public support’ built around the president.

An analysis of today’s Eid video footage showed that at least 30 to 40 of those who chanted the slogan had also made the same demand during the previous Eid-ul-Fitr. They were primarily brought in from various areas of the capital, including Kamrangirchar, Rupnagar, Darussalam, Mirpur, and Gabtali. Each was handed cash ranging from Tk 1,500 to Tk 1,800 the night before Eid.

Multiple eyewitnesses and participants revealed, “They said they were going to pray. Later, they said we had to say something for Yunus sir. Like before, we said it again this time. We got the money beforehand.”

One participant added, “After Eid, they told us to chant ‘Sir, stay for five more years,’ and they would record it, then give extra money.”

LGED advisor funds, NCP leaders coordinate
Sources indicate that the entire plan was funded by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Like during Eid-ul-Fitr, he held a meeting with leaders of the National Citizen’s Committee (NCP) the night before Eid at an official residence to strategize.

It has been learned that several influential organizers of the NCP were directly involved in this plan. Through them, middlemen hired people and controlled the slogan-chanters according to a specific script. The same individuals responsible for gathering crowds at the NCP rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital were confirmed to have hired people for the Eid congregation as well, according to BD Digest.

An analysis of the incident reveals that these repeated fake slogans and video footage are primarily aimed at creating an artificial image of popularity around the chief advisor. The religious space of the Eidgah has been exploited, and political propaganda has been deliberately inserted into the sacred environment of prayers—a move that violates tradition, decency, and state neutrality.

Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus did not comment on the matter. However, his silence has raised fresh questions.

Apart from Islamist political parties, most political leaders and activists have labeled the incident as ‘exploitation of religious sentiment and state deception.’ On this issue, a top leader of the BNP central committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “If popularity has to be bought with money, it is no longer a state honor—but a reflection of betrayal. It’s not a coincidence that the same script, the same people, and the same slogan were used in one Eid, and then again in another. Rather, it is a well-planned propaganda campaign aimed at creating artificial public support around a person holding the highest state position.”

A BNP mayoral candidate in Dhaka, speaking anonymously, said, “Such incidents call into question the chief advisor’s neutrality, the sanctity of national events, and public trust in democracy. Accountability for those involved and a transparent investigation will only be possible once the country’s elected government is in place.”