The government has declared Dr. Muhammad Yunus, outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, as a 'Very Important Person' (VIP) for one year. The decision was announced in a government gazette on February 10, 2026, under Section 2(a) of the Special Security Force Act, 2021. As a result, Dr. Yunus will continue to receive top-level security and protocol from the Special Security Force (SSF) even after stepping down from his position. The order, signed by Secretary Md. Saifullah Panna on behalf of the President, took immediate effect.

According to the gazette, the arrangement ensures Dr. Yunus’s personal safety and reflects the government’s respect for his international stature. While extending VIP privileges to a departing Chief Adviser is not new in Bangladesh, this time the duration has been significantly extended compared to previous instances. In 2006, a similar status was granted for only three months to the then outgoing Chief Adviser.

The decision underscores the government’s intent to maintain high-level security for Dr. Yunus during the post-transition period.