Asset statements reviewed by authorities indicate Yunus’s declared wealth rose about 11 percent within a year, reaching roughly ₹12.5 crore, an increase of about ₹1.3 crore. The filings also show that 18 of 21 ministers in the interim administration reported gains, prompting calls within the new leadership for a formal probe to verify disclosures and ensure compliance with financial transparency rules.
Housing Minister Adilur Rahman recorded one of the largest individual jumps, with assets rising by about ₹1.23 crore. Officials said the proposed inquiry committee would examine the sources of these increases and determine whether existing asset-declaration laws were properly followed.
The development comes amid political transition in Bangladesh following last year’s upheaval that removed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power. Yunus, a Nobel laureate widely known for pioneering microfinance, had faced corruption allegations during Hasina’s tenure, though those cases were later withdrawn after his interim administration assumed office.
Separately, former IT minister Faiz Ahmed Tayyab has returned to the Netherlands after serving in the caretaker government. His tenure drew criticism from political opponents who alleged that certain technology procurement decisions favoured foreign firms and involved unnecessary high-capacity equipment purchases. No formal charges have been announced.
Diplomatic activity in Dhaka has also intensified. Sources said delegations linked to Pakistan and China have held meetings with political figures ahead of the new government’s swearing-in, signalling efforts to recalibrate regional ties.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Gyeshwar Chandra Roy said in an interview that his party supports political pluralism and would not favour bans on rivals such as the Awami League. He also called for cooperative relations with India while stressing what he described as a policy of “equal partnership.”
Rahman, son of former president Ziaur Rahman and ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, is scheduled to take oath on Feb. 17. Invitations have been sent to several international leaders, including India’s Narendra Modi, though parliamentary speaker Om Birla will represent New Delhi alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Modi will instead meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai the same day.
Analysts say the proposed asset probe could become an early test of the new administration’s anti-corruption stance and its ability to balance accountability with political stability as Bangladesh enters a new phase of governance.
