Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the recently departed interim government, has surrendered his diplomatic (red) passport, officials confirmed.

According to sources at the Home and Foreign Ministries, Dr Yunus handed over his passport about a week ago while still in office. The diplomatic passport had been issued during his tenure as chief adviser.

Officials said that, in addition to the chief adviser, around 20 advisers and adviser-level কর্মকর্তারা have already returned their diplomatic passports. However, some former advisers — including Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain — have yet to do so.

A senior government official said diplomatic passports are generally extended for up to six months in line with the tenure of the government. “Those who have not yet surrendered their passports must do so later. Once the validity expires, renewal facilities will no longer be available,” the official said.

Among those who have surrendered their passports are Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Home Affairs Adviser Major General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Education Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Ranjan Roy Poddar, Liberation War and Relief Adviser Faruk-e-Azam, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar, Commerce and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain, Information and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmin S Murshid, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum and Cultural Affairs Adviser Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui.

Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfe Siddiqui and Special Assistant on Posts and ICT Faiz Ahmed Tayyab have also returned their diplomatic passports. Former student advisers Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan surrendered theirs immediately after handing over their responsibilities.

Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2004, the interim administration led by Professor Yunus handed over power peacefully to the newly elected government on February 12 after serving for about one and a half years.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has since formed a new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after securing an absolute majority in the 13th national elections. The prime minister has announced a 49-member cabinet comprising 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers.