Advisers vacate govt residences, take belongings from offices

Advisers of the interim government have begun preparing to vacate office, with many already returning diplomatic passports and making arrangements to leave government residences ahead of the handover of power following the upcoming national election slated for 12 February.

A visit to several adviser offices at the Secretariat yesterday (9 February 2026) found signs of transition, as personal belongings were being packed and official work wrapped up. In some cases, advisers were seen taking personal items home, while staff organised files and office materials.

Most advisers have already submitted their red diplomatic passports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sources at the ministry and the Secretariat told The Business Standard. Preparations are also underway for the remaining advisers to return their passports in the coming days.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud was seen clearing his office yesterday. According to sources, he completed signing and returning files from various ministries, divisions and departments a day earlier.

Similar preparations were seen at the offices of the finance adviser and several other members of the Council of Advisers.

On 5 February, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the interim government would hand over power to the elected administration as soon as possible, adding that the process would not extend beyond 18 February.

The government has declared an executive holiday on 11 February, followed by the election on 12 February and regular weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday.

As a result, government offices will remain closed from 11 to 14 February, while officials remain engaged in election-related duties.

Wishing not to be named, an official from an adviser's office said advisers and special assistants to the chief adviser are considering 10 February as their final working day and are completing office formalities accordingly.

The interim government assumed office on 8 August 2024 following the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising. The Council of Advisers currently consists of the chief adviser and 20 advisers, along with several special assistants holding ranks equivalent to adviser, state minister and senior secretary.

Sources said advisers including Salehuddin Ahmed, Adilur Rahman Khan, Nurjahan Begum, Prof Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, Farida Akhter, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Dr AFM Khalid Hossain and Farooq-e Azam have already returned their diplomatic passports. Others, including Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Sk. Bashir Uddin and Sharmeen S Murshid, are in the process of doing so.

While many advisers did not take government residences, those who did have applied to vacate them before the new government assumes office. Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan vacated his residence on 31 January, while several others are preparing to follow suit.

Under existing regulations, advisers are required to return government housing and diplomatic passports upon resignation or completion of tenure, marking the formal end of their official responsibilities.