 "Muhammad Yunus, Yunus")
Yunus assumed charge of the interim government amid ongoing violence and vandalism, including against the Hindus and other minorities. (Photo: PTI)
The caretaker government in Bangladesh is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment for holding “free, fair and participatory elections,” its head Mohammad Yunus assured the international community on Saturday.
Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government, gave this assurance while addressing the third Voice of Global South Summit which was hosted by India in a virtual format.
“You all are aware that Bangladesh witnessed a Second Revolution’ on 5th August 2024, through a mass uprising spearheaded by our valiant students and joined by the masses,” the 84-year-old Nobel laureate said, referring to the political turmoil in his country, the resignation of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her fleeing to India on August 5.
Bangladesh went to polls in January this year and 76-year-old Hasina was reelected as the prime minister in a controversial election boycotted by the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former premier Khalida Zia.
Yunus assumed charge of the interim government amid ongoing violence and vandalism, including against the Hindus and other minorities.
“Our task is now to carry out vital reforms in our electoral system, judiciary, local government, media, economy and education,” Yunus said at the summit being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I invite you to visit Dhaka soon. Otherwise, you may miss something important. Much of Dhaka has turned into the graffiti capital of the world. Young students and children aged as young as 12-13 have been painting the walls of this 400-year-old city with images of a New Democratic environment-friendly Bangladesh,” he said.
“There is no central planning or guidance for that. No budget support from anybody. It is just an outpouring of their emotions and commitment to the goals of the Second Revolution,” the noted economist said.
The student-led protests demanding reforms in government job quotas evolved into a government-toppling movement in early August.
Yunus further said, “We must place the youth and students, who constitute a significant portion of the Global South’s population at the heart of our strategies.
He also emphasised redesigning the financial system to make sure that wealth is shared by all.
He also mentioned ‘The Bengali language movement’ in 1952.
“In 1952 the Bangladeshi students sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue. It inspired struggles for the right to speak in the mother language all over the world.
“I am honoured to be the oldest ‘young person’ to take part in this revolution and help them make their dreams come true. They need support from all of you,” Yunus said.
“Being old should not mean that you have to retire, withdraw yourself from economic activities. Human creativity never stops on a date fixed by the state. It doesn’t stop until the last breath. We may work together to see how to make societies supportive of the creativity of all people as long they live,” the octogenarian economist said.
During the anti-government protest in Bangladesh, over 230 people died during violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, taking the death toll to 560 during the three weeks of violence.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Aug 17 2024 | 8:21 PM IST
