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The chief advisor says he believes the international community will stand by the interim govt as it ‘charts a new democratic future’
Published : 18 Aug 2024, 03:13 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has asked foreign diplomats for their support for the interim government so Bangladesh can carry out a free, fair, and participatory election.
In a briefing for representatives of different missions from countries and organisations in Dhaka on Tuesday, he said:
“I took over a country which was, in many ways, a complete mess. 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. Elections were rigged blatantly. 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.”
He also gave assurances that an election would be held as soon as the necessary measures were taken to restore these institutions.
“We will hold a free, fair participatory election as soon as we can complete our mandate to carry out vital reforms in our Election Commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and media. We will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation.”
Yunus also spoke of reforms in other sectors and promised to uphold international law.
“We 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.”
“We will uphold and promote all our 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.”
He also vowed justice for the civilian and student massacre that eventually toppled the Awami League government, saying that he wanted an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the violence and subsequent due process.
Diplomats from over 50 countries, including the US, India, China, and Russia were present for the event, according to the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
