TDS Desk:

Highlighting the importance of required reforms, interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday conveyed to the international partners that they will hold a “free, fair participatory” election as soon as they can complete their “mandate” to carry out “vital reforms.”

“In their efforts to stay in power, the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country. Judiciary was broken. Democratic rights were suppressed through a brutal decade-and-a-half long crackdown,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters quoting him as conveying to the diplomats.

Shafiqul Alam briefed the media. Director General of the Public Diplomacy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin and Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir were also present.

Over 50 diplomats including representatives of the UN agencies were present.

While briefing the diplomats for the first time since the formation of the interim government on August 5, Prof Yunus said he took over a country that was in many ways a complete mess.

He put emphasis on required reforms in the Election Commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and media.

The chief adviser said elections were rigged blatantly and generations of young people grew up without exercising their voting rights.

“Banks were robbed with full political patronisation. And the state coffer was plundered by abusing power,” said Prof Yunus, adding that they will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation.

Prof Yunus said they will undertake robust and far-reaching economic reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and sustained growth, with priority attached to good governance and combating corruption and mismanagement.

He said they will uphold and promote all their international legal obligations, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

“Our government will adhere to all international, regional and bilateral instruments it is a party to. Bangladesh shall continue to remain an active proponent of multilateralism, with the UN at the core,” Prof Yunus said.

He said the interim government will look forward to maintaining and enhancing Bangladesh’s contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations.

On the Rohingya issue, he said their government will continue to support the million-plus Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh.

“We need sustained efforts of the international community for Rohingya humanitarian operations and their eventual repatriation to their homeland, Myanmar, with safety, dignity and full rights,” Yunus said.

Prof Yunus is encouraged by the words of support from their international friends and partners.

“Our government will nurture friendly relations with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding and shared interests,” he said.

He called upon their trade and investment partners to maintain their trust in Bangladesh for economic prosperity.

Prof Yunus said they won’t tolerate any attempt to disrupt the global clothing supply chain in which they are a key player.

“Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of a new beginning. Our valiant students and people deserve a lasting transformation of our nation. It is a difficult journey and we need your help along the way. We need to fulfill their aspirations. The sooner the better,” he said, adding that they have to create opportunities to build a poverty-free and prosperous new Bangladesh.

“We believe all our friends and partners in the international community will stand by our government and people as we chart a new democratic future,” said Prof Yunus.

Prof Yunus paid deep respect and homage to all those valiant students and innocent people who made the supreme sacrifice.

“Students of no other countries in our recent memory had to pay so much a price for expressing their democratic aspirations, dreaming a discrimination-free, equitable and environmentally-friendly nation where human rights of every citizen are fully protected,” he said.

Top priority of the Interim Government would be to bring the law and order situation under control. “We will be close to normalcy within a short period of time, with the unwavering support of our people and patriotic armed forces,” Prof Yunus said.

The police force has also resumed their operations. The armed forces will continue to serve in aid of civil power as long as the situation warrants.

“Our government remains pledge-bound to ensure safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups,” he said.

He said they have also made it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all the killings and violence committed during the recent mass uprising.

Prof Yunus has spoken to the UN human rights Chief Volker Turk and welcomed the UN rights office’s move to send a UN-led fact finding mission.

“We want an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the massacre and subsequent due judicial processes. We will provide whatever support the UN investigators need,” he said.

“The revolutionary students want us to carry meaningful and deep reforms, which will turn the country into a real and thriving democracy. The task is huge, but doable with the support of all people and the international community,” Prof Yunus said, adding that “We must succeed. We don’t have any other option.”

The chief adviser said he has taken up the responsibility at the request of the students. He paid deep respect to those who made supreme sacrifices in the recent student movement.

He sought the international community’s support to rebuild Bangladesh.

He conveyed to the diplomats that it was the second revolution after 1971 and the previous government left the country in a “complete mess.”

Prof Yunus said they want to build a poverty-free and prosperous Bangladesh, adding that they are now close to normalcy.

He exchanged pleasantries with the diplomats at the event.