[🇧🇩] Everything about the interim government and its actions

[Saif]

Though I am doubtful about the veracity of this video, I am posting this for your consideration.

 

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Government committed to creating environment for free, fair elections: Chief Advisor

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said his government is committed to transitioning Bangladesh to an inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment conducive to free, fair, and participatory elections. He made these remarks on Saturday during the Leaders' Session of the 'Third Voice of

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Government committed to creating environment for free, fair elections: Chief Advisor
bdnews24.com
Published :
Aug 17, 2024 22:38
Updated :
Aug 18, 2024 01:10

Photo: PID

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said his government is committed to transitioning Bangladesh to an inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment conducive to free, fair, and participatory elections.

He made these remarks on Saturday during the Leaders' Session of the 'Third Voice of Global South Summit-2024,' held in New Delhi, India.

The interim government head said, "The youth have driven the movement with a vision of revolutionary change, and their aspirations have resonated with the entire nation. Now, meaningful reforms are essential to ensure democracy and human rights, which will restore all the weakened institutions of the state."​

 

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Election after vital reforms

Chief adviser tells foreign diplomats; ‘I must succeed as there’s no other option’

www.thedailystar.net

Election after vital reforms
Chief adviser tells foreign diplomats; ‘I must succeed as there’s no other option’

The interim government will conduct a free, fair and participatory election after reforming the democratic institutions that had been destroyed by the previous regime, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus told the international community yesterday.

It is the interim government's mandate to make vital reforms in the Election Commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces, and mass media, he said.

"We will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation," he said.

Prof Yunus' first "meet and greet" event with more than 60 foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations was held at the InterContinental Dhaka.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media after the event.

The event scheduled to begin at 11:00am was delayed by nearly two hours. Prof Yunus said he was stuck in his office because some unruly government officials wanted their demand for permanent jobs fulfilled immediately.

He paid deep respect to the people who sacrificed their lives in the "Second Revolution" that led to the fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.

Students of no other countryin recent memory had to pay so much for expressing their democratic aspirations and dreaming of a discrimination-free, equitable and environment friendly country where human rights are protected, he added.

"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.

"The judiciary was broken. Democratic rights were suppressed through a brutal one-and-a-half decade 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."

In the new era that has dawned, he said, people, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic identity, will be able to fulfil their aspirations as the interim government will uphold democracy, justice, human rights, and freedom of speech.

The top priority now is to establish law and order at the earliest. The armed forces will continue to assist law enforcers as long as the situation warrants, he said.

Ensuring justice and accountability for all the killings during the mass upsurge is another priority, said the Nobel laureate.

"The revolutionary students want us to carry out meaningful and deep reforms, that 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.

"I must succeed. We don't have any other option."

Robust and far-reaching economic reforms will restore macroeconomic stability and sustained growth, with priority attached to establishing good governance and combating corruption, he said.

He promised upholding the international humanitarian and human rights law and adhering to the international, regional and bilateral instruments.

Bangladesh will continue to be a proponent of multilateralism, with the UN at the core, and look forward to maintaining and enhancing Bangladesh's contributions to the UN peacekeeping, he said.

The interim government will continue to support the Rohingya people in Bangladesh, he said, seeking sustained support from the international community for humanitarian operations and eventual repatriation to Myanmar.

Urging the trade and investment partners to keep their trust in Bangladesh, he said, "For our part, we won't tolerate any attempt to disrupt the global clothing supply chain in which we are a key player."

He then promised to nurture friendly relations with all countries.

"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 fulfil their aspirations. The sooner the better.

"We have to create opportunities to build a poverty-free and prosperous new Bangladesh."

Press Secretary Shafiqul said there was no question-answer session at the event, but Prof Yunus greeted and interacted with the diplomats after the speech.​

 

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EU will do its utmost to support interim government: Acting Ambassador

Acting Ambassador of the European Union Dr Bernd Spanier has said the European Union will do its utmost to support the interim government in turning its vision into a reality. "EU stands ready to help," he said after meeting interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a diplom

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

EU will do its utmost to support interim government: Acting Ambassador
UNB
Published :
Aug 18, 2024 23:49
Updated :
Aug 18, 2024 23:49

Acting Ambassador of the European Union Dr Bernd Spanier has said the European Union will do its utmost to support the interim government in turning its vision into a reality.

"EU stands ready to help," he said after meeting interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a diplomatic briefing at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.

"Great privilege to see Prof Yunus today during a meeting with the diplomatic corps," the diplomat said in a brief message shared through X, previously known as Twitter.

In his address to Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Professor Yunus said a new era has begun as the students impressed upon them their dream of a country where people, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic identity, will be able to fulfill their aspirations and enjoy full freedom of expression, with the government upholding democracy, justice and human rights and freedom of speech.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said he was delighted to briefly meet Prof Yunus at the diplomatic event today.

During the event, Prof Yunus addressed the priorities, opportunities and challenges facing the interim government.

"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Bangladesh in its quest for peace, prosperity, and economic empowerment for all its citizens," said the Ambassador.​

 

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The education mission for the interim government

Students should have the right to have a role in managing the education and co-curricular activities of their institutions

www.thedailystar.net

The education mission for the interim government

With their sacrifice and maturity demonstrated in the popular movement, students have earned the right to have a role in managing the education and co-curricular activities of their institutions. PHOTO: ORCHID CHAKMA

In 1974, Dr Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda, head of Bangladesh's first education commission, outlined many goals for the country's education sector, from universal literacy at the primary stage to quality education in Bangladesh universities. These goals were never realised. A majority of children aged 10-14 years cannot read or count at a basic level, according to World Bank estimates, and adult literacy skills at functional level remain well below 40 percent, according to an Education Watch assessment.

The expectations from the interim government, headed by Prof Muhammad Yunus, are many and high. The burning education questions are the policy and action priorities for the interim government.

To the credit of the Awami League government, the 2010 National Education Policy, adopted by the parliament, was a broadly accepted guideline for development in education. However, 14 years later, we have not seen a comprehensive and coordinated implementation plan for the policy. Most key objectives remain unmet, such as: i) a core unified curriculum for all types of school education with a minimum common standard of school provisions for all students; ii) major change in the professional training of teachers, their performance standards, their status and incentives, and assurance of adequate numbers; and iii) decentralised and accountable education governance, planning and management. These goals were aimed at realising an inclusive and equitable education system that responds to the needs of changing times.

Many educationists saw education development as fragmented and partial. The government actions did not address the roots of the problems. Too often, the government pursued solutions that avoided rocking the boat—solutions that usually don't work.

Public investment in education has remained at or below two percent of GDP—one of the lowest among developing countries. And larger budgets, under the present structure of planning, management and accountability, may lead to more waste, inefficiency, and mismanagement. One of the priorities should be a broad assessment of primary-level students' ability to read and do basic arithmetic, and actions based on the assessment to reach these targets. For example, Bangladesh could adopt the early grade reading and arithmetic survey, Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). It was pioneered by Pratham, an Indian NGO.

The past government claimed credit for a major expansion of student enrolment including girls, growth in the number of educational institutions, stipends for school students, distribution of free textbooks, and use of multimedia in classrooms. These have not produced satisfactory learning outcomes due to deficits in planning, school management, accountability, and pursuit of an education vision. We don't have enough teachers with professional skills, commitment to teaching, and a career path for them.

Comprehensive and coordinated planning has been obstructed by splitting school education into two ministries, unlike in any other country. As in other sectors, partisan political interests, rather than educational goals, have guided decision-making, especially in recruitment of personnel.

The new school education curriculum, launched in 2022 with much fanfare, has caused much anxiety and confusion among students, teachers, and parents.

The extraordinary recent events call for urgent actions. Students need to be in school and normal operations need to resume. At the university level, the University Grants Commission (UGC), in consultation with students and other stakeholders, should provide guidelines, but not seek to micro-manage. Each institution should consult students and teachers, and parents at school level, in implementing the guidelines.

With their sacrifice and maturity demonstrated in the popular movement, students have earned the right to have a role in managing the education and co-curricular activities of their institutions. Non-partisan elected student bodies should be formed in institutions.

The recent spate of resignations in top university positions requires that the right people be appointed to the right place. Appointments must be based on merit, not political loyalty. The process must ensure impartiality through measures such as clearly defined qualifications and use of search committees. A professional UGC can facilitate the process and consult teachers and students.

While changes are made, schools must continue to operate without disruptions and untried experimentations. This is particularly germane to the new curriculum. Most educationists want a pause in the rollout of the new curriculum. In order to minimise disruption, two steps can be taken: i) textbooks already introduced in some grades under the new curriculum may continue and existing textbooks may be used for other grades; and ii) conventional end-of-year or public student evaluation based on written examinations should continue, separating formative and practical work-based evaluation in classrooms from summative written examinations. Pausing for a year or so should be used to review and rethink the curricular reforms, particularly student evaluation, a highly controversial aspect of the new curriculum, and effective implementation in classrooms. Experts and stakeholders should be involved in this rethink.

An education consultative group of experts and stakeholders should examine the status and the priorities in the education sector and advise the interim government. They would look at the issues and suggest actions on the matters noted above. This group may be turned into a permanent, statutory commission as recommended in the 2010 education policy.

The consultative group would also consider and advise on larger policy questions related to the Sustainable Development Goals and national goals for building an equitable, inclusive and quality education system for all. These larger agenda would include: i) promoting an equitable society through education; ii) a time-bound plan for equitable and inclusive early childhood development and K-12 school education of acceptable quality for all; iii) strengthening the teaching profession and the education workforce in respect of their professional skills, motivation, performance and adequacy of numbers as well as effective use of digital technologies; iv) establishing decentralised district education authorities for planning and managing equitable K-12 education in every community; and v) ensuring academic autonomy of the education system and education institutions, protecting them from partisan politics.

The interim government may not complete all needed reforms. It should at least set a course which all stakeholders can endorse. If the interim government realises at least some of the key reforms, we will have honoured Dr Qudrat-i-Khuda's aspirations.

The author acknowledges valuable comments received from Dr John Richards and Shahidul Islam, his co-authors of the book 'Political Economy of Education in South Asia: Fighting Poverty, Inequality and Exclusion' (University of Toronto Press, 2022).

Dr Manzoor Ahmed is professor emeritus at BRAC University, chair of Bangladesh ECD Network (BEN), and adviser to the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE).​

 

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BNP won’t offer any timeframe for holding election

All members of the party’s supreme policy making body agreed to allow the interim government a reasonable time to execute necessary reforms.

en.prothomalo.com

BNP won’t offer any timeframe for holding election
Special CorrespondentDhaka
Published: 20 Aug 2024, 23: 11

The meeting of the BNP standing committee at the chairperson's office in the capital's Gulshan area at night on 19 August, 2024.Courtesy

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has apparently softened its stance and decided not to specify a rigid timeframe for holding next parliamentary elections, so that the interim government can carry out fundamental reforms in the state mechanism in the meantime.

The party, in a meeting of its national standing committee on Monday, reached a consensus in this regard. All members of the party’s supreme policy making body agreed to allow the interim government a reasonable time to execute necessary reforms.

According to sources, the other decisions of the meeting include that the BNP will demand a judicial inquiry committee to investigate the BDR killings at Pilkhana in 2009, and that they will celebrate the party’s founding anniversary with much festivity on 1 September.

Previously, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had demanded that the elections be held within three months following the formation of the interim government, while acting chairman Tarique Rahman sought elections in the fastest possible time.

It was learned through conversations with multiple members of the standing committee after the meeting that the party shifted its stance on the issue and decided to refrain from offering any rigid timeframe to the interim government for holding the parliamentary elections.

Its policymakers now believe that the interim government should be given adequate time to carry out necessary reforms, particularly in key state institutions. The BNP would extend its full support to the government.

On the condition of anonymity, a member of the standing committee told Prothom Alo, “It has been only a few days since the inception of the government. Why will the BNP offer a timeframe right now? It would be indecent and inappropriate. It is not a matter for us to demand, rather they will announce an election when the time comes.”

The meeting welcomed two newly appointed members – Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain – of the standing committee. Apart from other members, acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined the meeting virtually.​

 

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What the interim government needs to do urgently

After 15 years of autocratic rule and authoritarian economic policymaking, the time has come for significant societal reform

www.thedailystar.net

What the interim government needs to do urgently

The energy sector has become an area of large-scale corruption in Bangladesh. VISUAL: STAR

After 15 years of autocratic rule and authoritarian economic policymaking, the time has come for significant societal reform through conscious youth leadership and public participation. Such a possibility was created once in 1972 and again in 1990. We could not realise either of those two opportunities because of the betrayal and hypocrisy of the big political parties. Instead, we saw them consolidate their wealth and create a new political class.

It is important that we remember the failings of the past, so that we do not replicate them moving forward. Now, there is an interim government—we know its limitations but we must also keep in mind its primary responsibilities. This government came to power through a mass uprising, so it has public support and responsibility to initiate some major reforms that other governments did not. Let's consider some of the things this government can do in the next one or two months.

First and foremost, inquiry committees should be formed to investigate the unprecedented number of killings and acts of repression that we have witnessed. The responsible persons, organisations, and policies that enabled these actions should be brought to justice and amended through a special tribunal. An example must be set so that this sort of mass killing can never happen again in Bangladesh.

Massive corruption, bad deals, bank robberies, loan defaults, and over-expenditures in megaprojects have been commonplace in the last 15 years. The government should publish a white paper and make public all the deals, contracts and excesses of the previous regime. The next duty would be to analyse the large amount of loans incurred—Bangladesh has never had such high levels of foreign loans. The people of Bangladesh are yet to fully realise the steep amount they will need to repay as a result of these incredibly expensive contracts, since the deals were never made public. Moving forward, we must demand full disclosure of each loan or contract signed by our government, as the burden for paying them will fall on us.

Then there are the megaprojects, which have been touted as the achievements of the government; yet many of them are actually disastrous, unreliable, and risk-prone, threatening the security of the country. It is essential for this government to review these megaprojects. One of the most prominent ones is the Rampal project which has the potential to destroy the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world that also acts as a protective barrier against natural disasters. Enough national and international research has been conducted by experts clearly highlighting the dangerous impact of these projects. Moreover, there has been a decade-long people's movement against this project with support being attained from every section of society.

There is also the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which poses an existential threat. It is unusual to find a nuclear power plant in such a densely populated place filled with forests and rivers. If the risk of such a nuclear plant were ever to become a reality, the lives of tens of millions of people would be endangered. Even the nuclear waste management system of a project like this would put the country at risk.

The decision is clear: projects like Rampal, Rooppur, and Bashkhali must be cancelled. The interim government can initiate the process of doing so. Now, a question may arise: Since we have already taken loans for these projects and spent such an exorbitant amount of money, won't this be a massive financial loss to not continue? My answer is this: if a government, without the consent of its people, takes a loan that is against their well-being, it is not the people's responsibility to repay that loan. It is a case of odious debt, a legal doctrine explaining this very phenomenon. However, should we not receive that exemption and have to repay the loan, I would still argue that cancelling such projects would be more beneficial than going ahead with them in the long run.

The energy sector has become an area of large-scale corruption in Bangladesh. In the name of capacity charges, some companies receive hundred thousand crores of taka. Previously, the prime minister was in charge of this ministry, along with the state minister, aided by some local and international private companies. The companies that benefitted from unethical arrangements included well-known names such as Summit, Beximco, Bashundhara, United and many others in Bangladesh; in India, it consisted of NTPC, Adani, and Ambani; in Russia, it was Rosatom and Gazprom; in the US, the organisations were Chevron, ConocoPhillips; and in China it was China Power etc.

The entire power and energy policy needs to be revised. The Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act must be repealed immediately. Right now, we are running on a master plan made entirely by foreign consultants. We have to reject this and cancel all the environmentally disastrous, import-oriented, foreign-funded projects and opt for environmentally-friendly, safe, non-corrupt projects. This will not only reduce the price of gas and electricity, but eliminate the threat posed to the environment. We can achieve this by developing Bangladesh's capacity in natural gas exploration and by pushing for renewable energy. The interim government must initiate this journey.

Next, we have to prioritise the major but neglected sectors crucial for public well-being which include public education, public healthcare, and public transportation. For far too long, we've seen low budget allocation and high irregularities in these sectors. Meanwhile, public transportation remains under the auspices of corrupt business owners. Should the spirit of the 2018 Road Safety movement be revived, and the demands made then be fulfilled now, the public transport sector can be greatly rectified. After independence, great emphasis had been placed on education and health; yet we have backtracked completely. Every government has failed in this regard. If the current government focuses on fixing these sectors, their credibility will increase, and based on this, stronger institutions may be developed.

The conversation of reforming the constitution should also start. We need to figure out how the constitution has become exceedingly discriminatory, autocratic, and anti-people. How was power taken from the people? Why does the prime minister hold so much power in one hand? The constitution includes clauses for gender, class, ethnic and religious inclusion and also includes clauses against all sorts of discrimination. Yet, these promises have not been fulfilled due to opposite clauses in the same constitution.

Finally, along with institutional reforms for sustainable democracy, the VIP culture must be eradicated. Public offices should transform to serve the public without hassle. There must be accountability and transparency for all actions taken by government offices..

Anu Muhammad is former professor of economics of Jahangirnagar University.​

 

[Saif]

Timing of polls ‘a political decision’

Urging the people to set the interim government’s tenure and mandate, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said when the elections will be held is “completely a political decision”.

www.thedailystar.net

Timing of polls ‘a political decision’
Says Yunus in address to nation, asks people to fix interim govt’s mandate, tenure

Urging the people to set the interim government's tenure and mandate, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said when the elections will be held is "completely a political decision".

"Everyone is eager to know when our government will depart. The answer lies in your hands. It is up to you to decide when to bid us farewell. We are not the people to rule the country," he said in a 26-minute televised address to the nation yesterday evening.

He went on to request the people to discuss and prescribe what is the least the interim government needs to do.

"We can get a guideline from this discussion," Yunus said, adding, "But the political decision is the ultimate decision. And political decisions will only come from political discussion."

In his first address to the nation, the chief adviser also assured that he would not seek to extend his tenure.

He said the members of the advisory council took up the responsibilities at the call of the students and have been carrying out their duties with utmost diligence as a team.

Seeking blessings from the people, he said the government does not want to lose the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh, earned through the blood of the students and the people.

"If we lose this opportunity now, we will be defeated as a nation. We want to remain committed to the martyrs, the injured, and the surviving students so that we do not lose this achievement."

He said local government institutions will be empowered, and decentralisation of power will be ensured to strengthen democracy.

Necessary reforms to the administration, judiciary, Election Commission and the electoral system, and law and order would be made to ensure free flow of information and a free, fair, and participatory election.

"The aim of these [reforms] will be the initiation of an accountable political system against corruption, looting, and genocide," Yunus said.

The chief adviser said after the fascist government leader fled the country in the face of public wrath, they want to build a country where the human rights of every citizen are completely protected.

"We have one goal -- an open, democratic, exploitation-free, and non-communal Bangladesh. We are one family. We have one goal. We are committed to ensuring that no division can disrupt our dream," said the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He said Bangladesh was built with the supreme sacrifice of several millions, but it has been destroyed by fascism and tyranny.

The country had been changed so much that even an autocrat's peon can accumulate illegal wealth of Tk 400 crore without any obstruction.

"They have crippled the education sector; looted banks and the stock market; set world records in project expenditures; plundered resources openly; turned law enforcement agencies into puppets of their party; snatched away freedom of speech; and violated human rights. These are just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

To consolidate power, he said, "The fascist government curbed the people's constitutional power and rights. Their misrule, corruption, injustice, repression, and farce in the name of justice endangered public safety."

Millions of people were deprived of their voting rights for years and the autocrat not only took the nation's ownership, it also handed it over to its families and party people, he said.

Yunus thanked the people for their support for his government's efforts to bring reforms and said, "We realise that you have high expectations of us. We are determined to meet these expectations."

However, the long-standing absence of democracy and 15 years of fascist rule left the interim government with challenges as big as mountains.

"But we are ready to take up the challenge," he said, urging all to have patience.

He called on all not to force the immediate fulfilment of their demands, threaten individuals at work, mount pressure to lodge cases, or attack people at courts.

"These actions will tarnish the glory and potential of the revolution of student and people, and hinder the efforts to build a new Bangladesh," Yunus said.

He said the government had to begin the job of rebuilding the country on a fragile structure, which is contrary to public interest.

The government wants to build Bangladesh in such a way that the people become the source of all power in the true sense. "We must succeed in the task of reforming… There is no alternative to this."

DON'T OBSTRUCT OUR WORK

Regarding agitations and road blocks by different groups for realising their demands, Prof Yunus said rallies have been held daily at the Secretariat, around his office, and in various places in the city.

"We understand that you have suffered a lot and have grievances pent-up over the past 16 years. If you do not let us work, all paths to reducing the sufferings will remain closed. My earnest request to you that allow us to work," he said.

The chief adviser urged the agitating groups to submit their demands to them in writing and assured everyone of taking measures to solve the issues in line with the law.

MEASURES FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Prof Yunus said the government took all-out measures at government and private levels to ensure that the flood-hit people return to a normal life at the soonest.

"We have initiated discussions so that we can work together with neighbouring countries and domestic stakeholders to prevent floods in future," he said.

INSTRUCTIONS TO FORCES

Prof Yunus alleged that the army, police, BGB, and Rab have been disgraced as they were used for enforced disappearances and torture.

"They are the pride of the country. We do not want to see the image of an entire force get tarnished due to some overenthusiastic members.

"We want to identify the criminals and punish them so that no member of the patriotic forces, police, or Rab dares to engage in murder, enforced disappearances, or torture at anyone's command," he said.

Prof Yunus further said that he instructed the defence forces, police, and all other forces to identify and bring to justice those among them who were directly involved in murder, enforced disappearances, killings, or physical and mental torture.

Lists of those who have been made to disappear or were murdered are being prepared, he said.

He said the government is also at the final stages of establishing a "July Genocide Memorial Foundation", led by him, to preserve the memory of the martyrs of the mass uprising.

CORRUPTION

The chief adviser said a committee has already been formed to prepare a white paper on the corruption, money laundering, anti-public interest agreements, looting in the name of projects, and other crimes committed over the last 15 years.

"The entire country is submerged in a sea of bribery. Please advise us on how we can get out of this. If we can advance on this issue, I believe this government will have left an important contribution to the country," he said.

'WE ARE ALL EQUAL'

Putting emphasis on the need for unity, Prof Yunus said the government's responsibility is to bind all people of the country as a family.

"There will be disagreements in a family. There will be arguments. But we are brothers and sisters; we are parents. We are not enemies of each other. We will not consider anyone an enemy because of their opinions, religion, or gender.

"We all are equal. No one is above or below anyone else. We would like to establish this concept in all areas of national life," he said.

REFORMS IN SECTORS

The chief adviser talked about reform initiatives in various sectors, including banking, judiciary, police, education, health, and agriculture.

He said the government took initiatives to ensure good governance in the banking sector, which was turned into a den of "plunderers and the corrupt".

Skilled personnel are being recruited in this sector, he said, adding that a banking commission will be formed for long-term reforms in the sector.

He said a roadmap will be prepared and made public soon.

Immediate measures are being taken to address the extreme disorder in the stock market, transportation sector, and other areas. Besides, steps were taken to control the prices of essential commodities and inflation.

He said efforts were being made to free the judiciary from corruption and political influence. Measures were taken through a specific process to ensure the independence and accountability of the judiciary.

"Justice will be ensured for all extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, murders, abductions, and other heinous crimes committed by the fascist government. Everyone involved in these crimes will be brought to justice.

"Steps have been taken, including becoming a party to the international convention on enforced disappearances," he said.

Prof Yunus said a police commission will be formed to make the force people-centric, politically neutral, and accountable.

Necessary reforms will be made under the commission's leadership in line with the UN investigation and other agencies' reports, he said, adding, "Measures will be taken to ensure that no one can turn Bangladesh into a police state ever again."

Prof Yunus asserted that the free flow of information and freedom of the press will be ensured.

Legal and other barriers to free flow of information will be removed and repressive provisions in laws that obstruct freedom of expression will be amended, he said.

"We are committed to ensuring people's right to information."

He said the previous government unleashed anarchy in the education sector and this government's top priority will be massive reforms to the sector. The curriculum will also be updated promptly.

Yunus said, "All of our advisers will disclose their assets in the shortest possible time. This will be made regular and mandatory for all government officials gradually."

He said an ordinance will be enacted to appoint an Ombudsman in line with the constitution.

The chief adviser mentioned that necessary reforms will be brought to the health sector while farmers' interests will be protected so that they receive fair prices for their produce.

He said, "Development that destroys and pollutes rivers, canals, wetlands, hills, forests, soil, and air is not sustainable in the long term. Our government will give utmost importance to protecting the environment and climate."

Yunus said the government will maintain friendly relations with all countries and the foreign policy will be based on mutual trust, faith, and cooperation.

Through political unity, necessary reforms will ensure that women, children, people with disabilities, religious minorities, indigenous people, and all citizens of this country are entitled to equal protection under the law, he said.​

 

[Saif]

Govt officials must submit wealth statements: Prof Yunus

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said government employees should regularly submit their wealth statements.

www.thedailystar.net

Govt officials must submit wealth statements: Prof Yunus

File photo

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said government employees should regularly submit their wealth statements.‍

Incumbent advisers of the interim government will also disclose their assets. The chief adviser announced the appointment of an ombudsman as promised in the constitution to prevent corruption at the state level.

The chief adviser made these promises in his address to the nation today. This is his first address to the nation after taking charge of the interim government on August 8.

Dr Muhammad Yunus said, "All our advisers will publish their asset details as soon as possible. Regular asset disclosure will be made mandatory for all government servants."

"Local government institutions will be strengthened to consolidate democracy and decentralisation of power will be ensured," he said.

After conducting necessary reforms in the administration, judiciary, election commission and election system, law and order sector, we'll conduct free, fair and participatory elections.

The chief adviser said, "The current government has taken a clear stand against corruption. It aims to be an accountable one to corruption, looting. In this way, we want to introduce a new political settlement."​

 

[Saif]

Pruning unnecessary projects a pragmatic step

The decision by the interim government to list unessential and politically motivated projects for axing is a commendable and timely step. By streamlining development priorities, the interim government aims to avoid the wastage of public funds and ensure that resources are allocated efficiently. Giv

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Pruning unnecessary projects a pragmatic step
Published :
Aug 25, 2024 22:45
Updated :
Aug 25, 2024 22:45

The decision by the interim government to list unessential and politically motivated projects for axing is a commendable and timely step. By streamlining development priorities, the interim government aims to avoid the wastage of public funds and ensure that resources are allocated efficiently. Given the prevailing economic challenges, a careful recalibration and a realignment of development projects are crucial to ensuring effective allocation of limited resources for the most pressing needs of the nation.

Many projects undertaken by the previous Awami League regime not only served the party's political agenda but were also plagued by irregularities and cost overruns, leading to significant wastage of taxpayers' money. Completed projects often end up costing several times more than the originally anticipated due to corruption and lack of proper oversight. Unfortunately, it had become a common practice to allocate substantial funds for ministers and MPs for development projects in their constituencies, often timed to coincide with national elections. This politically motivated approach frequently resulted in incomplete projects by election time; when promises used to be made to complete them if the party secured a victory. The rush to implement such projects also raised questions about project implementation capacity and integrity. There were often complaints of wasted funds due to corruption, faulty design and delayed project execution.

The interim government inherited a legacy of inefficient and potentially wasteful infrastructure development projects, many of which are in various stages of implementation. This inherited burden presented a significant challenge before the new administration. Amid the lingering economic slowdown, it is crucial for the government to focus on projects that have a direct impact on the lives of citizens and the overall well-being of the nation. Additionally, the focus should shift towards increasing employment opportunities rather than solely prioritising GDP growth. Rising inflation has left the average person increasingly frustrated, as the cost of living continues to soar. In this situation, employment generation, infrastructure that supports long-term economic growth, and social welfare projects should get priority.

While the previous government focused heavily on infrastructure development, it often neglected the more important sectors such as education and health. These two sectors are fundamental for human capital development. As a result of chronic insufficient investment in quality education, primary healthcare, and skill development, the country is facing an acute human capital crisis. For example, Bangladesh needs to hire foreign engineers and technical experts for the construction of mega projects like the Padma Bridge and Metro Rail. However, no decisive action was taken to develop the technical expertise within the country who could undertake such projects in the future. The lack of skilled manpower is also evident in the fact that, while a large number of educated youths are not finding jobs, many local businesses are hiring foreign nationals who take home about six billion dollars annually, equivalent to a quarter of the country's expatriate income. It is imperative, therefore, for the government to review its priorities and set allocation accordingly to enrich the country's pool of skilled manpower. Advanced economies worldwide are known and respected for their optimal investment in human resource development. They understand that a skilled and educated population is the cornerstone of sustained economic growth. If Bangladesh truly wants to graduate to a proper middle-income economy, there is no alternative to developing human capital.​

 

[Saif]

Conduit to create black money blocked: Finance Adviser

None would be allowed anymore to produce black money and so legalising undisclosed money through budgetary provision wouldn't be needed, says the Finance Adviser about the accumulated past problem in financial sector. "Our stand is no scope will be given to generate black money," Dr Salehu

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Conduit to create black money blocked: Finance Adviser
FE REPORT
Published :
Aug 26, 2024 01:17
Updated :
Aug 26, 2024 01:17

None would be allowed anymore to produce black money and so legalising undisclosed money through budgetary provision wouldn't be needed, says the Finance Adviser about the accumulated past problem in financial sector.

"Our stand is no scope will be given to generate black money," Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Finance and Commerce Adviser of the interim government, told reporters on Sunday at his office after a meeting with representatives of different development partners in the NEC conference room in the capital.

He said measures would be taken to bring back the laundered money--the central bank is working on it.

Mr Ahmed said the government would take foreign loans selectively, not randomly, as the loan burden is building up.

He mentions that the United States and the United Nations give grants to Bangladesh and those can be taken.

"No foreign loans will be taken where a one-year project completes in fiver years," he said, indicating cost and time escalations in public works.

Regarding agitations in the capital by different groups of people, the adviser said, "We cannot ignore those who are agitating. We can't ignore discrimination, we can't ignore them.

"They have pain. They did not dare to talk about it in the past. Our government has started working very shortly and we are trying to solve their problem. We care about those who are being discriminated against."

Mr Ahmed said representatives of 41 organisations under the United Nations on Sunday met him and assured him to be with the government for economic and equality-based development.

"We want to work together with them," he said. Attention should be given to resettlement of the Rohingy in their homeland.

The finance adviser also had a meeting with Charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka Helen LaFave at his office in Bangladesh secretariat earlier in the day.

He urged increased US investment in agriculture, energy, and climate sectors.

After the meeting, the adviser told newsmen that the United States would enhance its support soon to develop the agriculture sector of Bangladesh.

"We have no debt to the US. All the helps they gave us are grants. That is why I told them to help more," he said.

He sees the US as very important to Bangladesh.

"The country has a big investment in the coastal region of Bangladesh. The main thing is that I have talked about investing more in agriculture, energy, climate and other sectors."

He said he gave special focus on the floods in the discussion with the development partners.

The so-long embargoed generalised system of preferences (GSP) issue regarding export to the US market also has been discussed, the adviser notes.

The possibility of seeking additional support from the IMF may be on the agenda when Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed attends the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in October, reports UNB.

The adviser along with key officials will attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in October.

He stressed that the government would prioritise its needs before taking on any loans, cautioning against extending short-term projects unnecessarily, which could increase the debt burden.

"We're seeking support not to waste or misuse it," he emphasized, underscoring the government's commitment to responsible financial management.

Addressing the ongoing protests against various forms of discrimination, the adviser acknowledged the legitimacy of these concerns.

"We can't ignore such discrimination. These issues have been suppressed for so long, and their woes have not been addressed. No one paid heed to them before, which is why we haven't deterred the protests," he remarked.

Dr. Saleh Uddin explained that while the government is committed to addressing these issues, not all problems can be resolved immediately due to the complexities involved.

Asked about the outcomes of the meeting with UN representatives, he highlighted government's commitment to equality-based development, with a focus on growth in women's rights, gender equality, health, and education.

"Our priorities are aligned with their programmes. We want the UN agencies to support us in our priority areas. It's not about accepting support for all projects they suggest," he clarified.

The adviser emphasized that the government aims at sustainable, equality-based development for the general population, with targeted support from UN agencies. He also noted that the government had requested special focus from the UN, particularly from UNHCR, on the situation of forcibly displaced Rohingya.

Dr Saleh Uddin mentioned that the UN agencies shared ideas related to various ministries and divisions, which will be communicated to the relevant departments in due course.

ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ILO Country Director and Ad Interim UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen were among the speakers at the meeting.

About the US he said, "I have given special attention to the issue of flood. You know that they have some conditions, especially with the BGMEA and GSP, to meet the challenges in the private sector; they have been urged to fulfil them."

Apart from this, "If they want to export our goods, to invest, either direct investment or joint investment, they will do it. There was a discussion about what can be done especially in the technical sectors, including BASIS."​

 

[Saif]

'Can't talk about future without reference to what AL has done'

Asif Nazrul tells Star in an exclusive interview

www.thedailystar.net

'Can't talk about future without reference to what AL has done'
Asif Nazrul tells Star in an exclusive interview

Asif Nazrul, the law adviser to the interim government, has one of the most challenging tasks at hand as Bangladesh seeks a new start after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5.

In an interview with The Daily Star's Golam Mortoza, he talks about the ways in which the judiciary can be reformed, and answers questions on the perceived errors of the interim government.

The following is the full interview with the law adviser, an excerpt of which was published on our print version.

The Daily Star (DS): You took the oath on August 8. There is a lot of work to be done. What has been your experience so far?

Asif Nazrul (AN): I was a university teacher and a writer-journalist. I used to have a lot of time … I could live as I wished. But after taking charge of the ministry, it seems that there has been so much corruption, irregularity, injustice… so many problems. I'm at office 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week, and continuing work deep into the night even after returning home. But even after all this, it seems that so much more needs to be done.

After 17 years, the people of the country have regained freedom of speech; they are able to make demand in a free and intense voice; they can dream. There is so much expectation that the challenge of keeping up with it has become physically very difficult. But still, we are trying.

The joy of doing good work is always there. I am getting that joy. All of us spend a lot of time at work. We just think that people should be a little more patient and try to understand the situation.

DS: The pressure of expectation on the government is huge. Do you feel like you're struggling to meet those expectations or things are happening that shouldn't be happening?

AN: Many of us do not have the experience of running a government. If anyone starts work with little experience, he or she will make some mistakes. But it is important to see whether I have the will to do something good, whether I am working hard, whether I am trying to learn from my mistakes.

I think our interim government is trying to learn from its mistakes. If mistakes are found in the advisory council, [Chief Adviser Muhammad] Yunus even discusses those during our lunch breaks. Some mistakes can be corrected immediately, some maybe not.

I can't say everything as I am sworn to secrecy, but I can confirm that we try to be aware of the mistakes. We may lack in how much we can learn or how quickly we can take action, but every day we are learning and evaluating our work. We are trying to understand what people think and hope to do better in future.

However, I would request everyone to don a sympathetic lens when assessing how much of the anger accumulated over 15 years of failure can be quelled by a 15-day government.

DS: People expect that popular faces like Yunus and Asif Nazrul, who are now in the government, can perform magic to solve all the problems. How would you meet these expectations?

AN: When people suddenly get such a big opportunity, they naturally want to see magic. It would be good if the wise people in our society, who understand matters of the state, try to explain the situation to the people. I am impressed by the work of our young coordinators, with whom I am working. They are very skilled and mature. We try to convey messages through them as well.

One thing must be understood, it is not possible for humans to do anything magical, [but] it is possible for people to do good things within the bounds of reality.

The way a section of HSC examinees have demanded not to take the exam is not supported by a large section of the society. Even students at Notre Dame College say they want to take the test. So we are all trying to learn from each other.

DS: Two perceptions have emerged from the recent demonstration of the HSC examinees that led to cancellation of the exams. One is that the government is very soft; they showed weakness by accepting the examinees' demands. Another is that the students are still traumatised, and so their demands were accepted. But are we continuing the degradation seen in the education sector over the last 17 years?

AN: My first message is that the government is not weak; The government is kind and compassionate. We should consider the trauma these students, who took part in the movement, have gone through. You know that the examinees experienced similar traumatic situations after the Liberation War in 1971. We have taken their trauma into consideration; it is not our weakness.

I believe the interim government is not comfortable with this decision to cancel the exam. I discussed with the advisers and talked to the students. We are thinking about what can be done. I believe canceling exams did not set a good example.

DS: Will there be many reforms in the judiciary? Is it possible?

AN: It never seemed impossible to me. I am a law teacher. As I have said before, at least a third of the judges in the lower courts are my direct students. At least half the judges in the higher courts are known to me as colleagues, friends, and students. I worked for ADB-UNDP as a consultant for judicial reform. I am very confident that the independence and efficiency of the judiciary can be enhanced if intentions are good.

A popular opinion about judicial reform is that lower courts should be reformed first. The donors and the civil society also support this argument. In fact, if the independence of the judiciary is to be ensured, the higher courts must be reformed first.

You can say making the lower courts independent means putting them under full authority of the higher courts. The higher courts will govern and control the lower courts and the government will not intervene in these affairs. However, if the higher courts function as a subordinate part of the government, then what is the use of leaving the lower courts under their jurisdiction?

I have been working on it. There has been terrible anarchy in the appointment of judges to the higher courts. Not just incompetent, but corrupt and extremely partisan individuals have been appointed as judges in the Supreme Court. Even a previous chief justice expressed his anger about it.

This appointment-anarchy happened during the BNP government as well. It reached unprecedented levels during the unelected Awami League regime, which managed to seize power through sham elections.

The ways to reform the higher courts are fixing the recruitment laws and policy, reforming the sole and unlimited authority wielded by the chief justice over the judiciary, reorganising the GA committee of the Appellate Division and the High Court division, establishing an independent and dedicated secretariat for the higher courts.

Reform is certainly possible through such initiatives. You look at our current chief justice. He studied at Oxford, with a PhD from Tufts University. And most of the previous chief justices who served during the Awami League regime studied in ordinary law colleges of Bangladesh's small towns. You will clearly see the difference in their professionalism. Do you think that the man who graduated from Oxford will be anyone's mental slave? He is extremely knowledgeable and he has high self-esteem. And obviously, the thought process of someone who graduated from an ordinary small-town law college with questionable professional qualifications, and who was appointed chief justice just because of political allegiance, will be quite different.

DS: How will you ensure sustainability of these reform initiatives?

AN: We have set an example. When the next chief justice is appointed, all of you will be able to compare [the next CJ with the current one].

Second, we are trying to implement systemic change. If such a system can be developed that judges will be appointed to the High Court on the basis of competence and integrity, then we can ensure that judges of the Appellate Division and the chief justice will be appointed from this group of competent and fair judges.

We can develop a fair recruitment mechanism, but we cannot guarantee that this mechanism will ensure 100 percent efficiency. But it can be said that this mechanism can reduce corruption and anarchy significantly. After reforming the higher courts, we shall work on the lower courts.

Our chief adviser also believes that the judiciary is the most important sector of a country as it is the last hope of people. If this sector performs righteously, it is possible to resolve many issues including ensuring human rights and rule of law.

DS: Arrestees like Dipu Moni were attacked in court, and so it has been said the government could not or did not ensure their security. It may seem like a small incident but it can have a big impact.

AN: I felt really bad about these incidents, especially about what happened with Dipu Moni. But isn't the past regime mainly responsible for the situation that has been created in the courts? They have oppressed countless numbers of people in the name of justice, they have taken away a critically ill patient's right to have medical treatment, courts under direct political influence issued numerous predetermined verdicts. People's right to cast votes were taken away and the role the ministers played ... in short, by taking away people's rights, making people victims of mass murder, the Awami League government has created such a state that we can only hope that people will behave politely, but cannot guarantee it.

Think of a family which has lost a member to enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killing, think of youngsters who have lost their jobs and have been forced to pull rickshaws in the cities to earn a living, think of those who were denied justice in the lower courts or higher courts, think of lawyers who were threatened. An advocate of the Supreme Court died from heart failure due to these threats. A justice who served under Awami League government took part in a procession after his retirement demanding justice for Khaleda Zia and was arrested from his home. Such oppression and pain accumulated for 15 years in people and in some cases we can see their outburst. It is not desirable but not unusual either.

We think not only our government, but society has a role to play in preventing such incidents. Everyone should play their part to stop such occurrences.

DS: It has become a practice for all governments to blame predecessors for all the ill deeds…

AN: The government that killed 1,000 people in two weeks, the government that shot children in the chest, the government that declared war on students, used helicopters to kill innocent people, raided neighbourhoods and arrested students at night – I would be committing a sin if I don't blame them for what they did. I came to the interim government to meet the expectations of the people after the previous government fell in a popular coup. I think we should always recall what the AL government has done. No one can talk about the future without referring to what the Awami regime has done. It is quite impossible.

DS: There is a massive reshuffle in all the government sectors. Does reform mean just reshuffling?

AN: Before reforms, it must be ensured that the administration, police and everything else is taken out of the hands of those who have helped sustain an autocratic government for 15 years. Is it possible to implement reforms when the officials who committed extrajudicial killings are still in their posts? Is it possible to reform the police administration with Harun still in charge of DB police? This is why these people should be replaced by honest and competent officials.

Awami League was in power for 15 years. They have employed their henchmen in three layers of administration. We are looking for non-partisan, honest and competent officials, but many such officials are already retired. So, it will take time to find honest officials.

After bringing in these people, we will reform the policies. First, we are withdrawing the false cases filed over the July murders. Then we will try to change the policy and law so that this does not happen again in the future.

Competent people are being installed so that no one can obstruct the reform process. Reforms mean change in administration, making it people-oriented, inclusive, transparent and accountable. We will definitely do that.

The idea of reforming Bangladesh is nothing new. A lot of work has been done on it. Three-member alliance framework was developed back in 1991. In 1974-75, Sirajul Alam Khan proposed constitutional reforms. We had a lot of resources but there was absence of goodwill and pro-people leadership. Now, we have such a leader and I think we can do something good.
​

To be continued....................

​

 

[Saif]

DS: Stalwarts of the previous government are being arrested on various charges, but there are questions about the charges. For example, the person who has been known to destroy the country's financial sector has been arrested for attempting murder or for ordering to kill people. We saw such political cases being filed on ridiculous charges during the previous regime, and now we are seeing a continuation of that. Will police continue to file such cases or will you be able to reform them?

AN: The current cases are not ridiculous but questions may be brewing. They did not file any case against Sheikh Hasina on stealing fish, which she filed against Zafrullah Chowdhury.

As far as I understand and know, you have to take a lot of time and preparation to file financial cases. Will it be safer for a despised Awami League leader to walk the streets like a common citizen or will it be safer for him to be detained? You have to take this reality into consideration. Sometimes you have to detain them so that they cannot flee to any other country or get killed on the street by angry mobs and also because you want them to face trial for the crimes they have committed. Sometimes cases are filed to detain them hastily. Also many people have filed cases as they have lost their children during the July massacre. They are filing cases against the then prime minister as they think that she was responsible for the massacre. Would you call these cases controversial? If my child was killed, I would have also filed cases against Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader. So, you can ask questions only about a few cases.

In some cases, I have heard that the people have surrounded the police station and forced the police to file cases against some local politicians. So, police are recording cases but that does not mean the accused are being punished at the same time. Now, taking a case does not mean someone is being punished. There can be an investigation even after taking a case into cognisance. It may seem that people are filing the case and the police are taking it. But this is a response to the situation created during the former regime. There is nothing else to do at the moment.

DS: Seven journalists have been accused in the murder of a student in Jatrabari. Such cases were filed during the previous government. Why are such cases still being filed?

AN: We cannot refrain a parent of a murdered student from filing a case at his discretion. The previous government had made it an established culture to file such cases. Perhaps we are seeing a continuation of it. However, we will look into it so that no one is harassed without proper investigation.

DS: If hundreds of such cases are filed all over the country, will it become a hindrance to the judicial process?

AN: If a childless father wants to file a case in a remote area of the country, who has the right to prevent or stop him? Neither Yunus nor me. In the July killings -- not just killings, thousands of people were shot, lost eyes, seriously injured -- if every person files a case against Sheikh Hasina or her government ministers for their command responsibility, I cannot stop anyone. We are not encouraging anyone to file those cases. Naturally, people are filing cases to seek justice. We will only ensure that justice is done properly. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that.

Suppose there are 50 murder cases against someone. Of these, perhaps two or three have been proven. Even if the rest is not proven, the purpose of the trial -- getting the guilty punished -- will be accomplished and the trauma of the victim's mind will be somewhat healed. And if he gets acquitted in all the cases in the judicial process, then that will happen. At least the accused will take solace from the fact that he was tried fairly.

DS: The July massacre was not an isolated incident; it was a planned massacre. If the massacre was carefully chalked out in the PM's residence and armed Chhatra League and Jubo League men were deployed to carry it out, why is it not possible to conduct the trial in a carefully planned manner?

AN: It can be conducted in a planned way when the government will take an active part in the litigation process. That is why I said that the case can be filed in the International Criminal Court. We are working on it. The globally accepted definition of crimes against humanity is that it is a crime against humanity if there was a planned, widespread and systematic killing.

But judgement cannot be issued in a planned way. That becomes injustice. We will be able to work on the process of the case filing and investigation. Then the verdict is up to the judge.

DS: Ali Riaz warns you in his column that the judicial process should not be questioned in any way. Why he did he say this? What is the significance of this?

AN: I welcome civil society. They should keep an eye on every government. Civil society always tries to warn the government with good intentions. I was also a part of it. Now, as part of the government, I see that there has been nothing to worry about so far. Sometimes it seems that their advice is very acceptable. Sometimes I wonder if they took into consideration how corruption, arbitrariness, factionalism, personal worship have been inserted into the police and judicial system in the last 15 years? How is it possible that a 15-day-old government will run the state completely free of controversy with such an administration? They need to consider that we will need some time.

DS: They want to see if you are on that path.

AN: They will see whether we are on that path or not. We want them to criticise us if we stumble somewhere, if we make a mistake. But let them bear in mind the fact that in 15 years everything has been spoiled. How much good can I get out of this rotten stuff? It will take us time.

DS: This government is the product of a bloody revolution led by students. There were rumours of a judicial coup against this government. We could not verify whether the claim was true or false. When a military officer is fired, taken off a plane, and various stories are circulated about him, there is a kind of anxiety. There is also anxiety about what was done about August 15.

AN: Concerns should always be expressed. It will create a positive path for us. But if someone wants everything quickly, and if the expectation does not come from a logical context, it can confuse some people.

I would say, all those who express concern, just keep in mind the destruction that has been done to the country in 17 years.

The problem is not having concern about us, but the way people express their expectations. Many people know me for participating in television programs. People stopped my car on the street and began to voice their demands. I was surrounded by health workers a few days ago. They demanded that their job must be regularised under the government pay scale. I told them that you were appointed during the Awami League period and could not materialise this demand in the last 11 years and now you are pushing this demand to an 11-day old government. Is that logical? Is it logical that Prof Yunus reached his meeting with 65 ambassadors two and a half hours late after his office was surrounded. When you got independence after 17 years, you started to raise demands by blocking streets and government offices. Is that a rational thing to do? I leave these to your wise judgement.

After talking to the health workers, they came to my office and apologised for their actions, and they requested us to consider their demands. If you have demands, you should send those to us. You should give us a rational time to work on those demands. If we cannot fulfil those requirements, you can demonstrate in front of our office every day for one hour. This government is so young … you should give us a logical timeframe to work on your demands.

Another issue is that we have an acute crisis of resources. The Awami regime has burdened us with a massive debt of Tk 18 lakh crore. They have destroyed all the banks and siphoned off huge amounts of money. I know the real financial situation of the government. Now, if everyone demands a salary from the government, will it be possible for us to fulfil those demands?

You can expect from us but don't create obstacles for us. Don't do anything that may ruin the revolution of students and the mass people. This is my request to all of you.

DS: Many people have not understood what you meant when you said, "Reforms will take time, and elections will happen after reform."

AN: We cannot decide right now how long this government will last. This decision will be taken by the people of Bangladesh. That may be questionable, but notice that BNP, one of the biggest political parties in the country, said they would wait as long as it takes. When we talked to political parties, no one said you should leave by a certain time. If you want reforms and if you want the next election to be under an administration that will ensure fair elections, this government needs time to ensure that.

DS: Shouldn't you say how long it will take?

AN: At some point, we shall definitely sit on this issue and clarify how much time we might need to hold the elections. But it will take some time. Right now, we have to do the urgent things first. If there is a fire somewhere, it must first be extinguished. How to restore things to their previous state will have to be discussed later.

We will then go to the people and say we want to do this and that, it will take this amount of time. If people want those reforms they will give time, if not they won't.

The first task we have embarked upon is ensuring that there is no counter-revolution or conspiracy. There have been revolutions and counter-revolutions in various countries.

DS: Was the judicial coup really going to be a counter-revolution?

AN: Since it didn't happen, we don't know what the truth is. However, there was reason to fear that such a thing would happen.

Our priority is to prosecute the July murders, to ensure people's treatment, to make the administration and police people-friendly.

DS: What measures are being taken to protect the financial sector, to ensure that money is not laundered and to bring back money that has been laundered abroad. Do you have the ability to catch the big money launderers?

AN: Yes, we have taken steps to prevent money laundering. Doesn't it seem from looking at the appointments in Bangladesh Bank, the ministries of finance and planning that our intention is to stop irregularities in the financial sector? Do you not see the measures taken by Ahsan H Mansur after he was appointed Bangladesh Bank governor?

DS: Many people have asked whether this government is dynamic. Are all branches of government able to work together?

AN: Is everyone in the Argentina football team Messi? Is everyone in the France team Mbappe? No matter how big the team, can everyone play together in every game? We have no shortage of goodwill here, but there may be some lack of coordination. Everyone's working style is different. If you see someone's work, you may think that they are doing a lot of work. On the other hand, you may not understand someone else's work as they work silently.

In football, we talk less about midfield or defensive players. The discussion is about the player who scored the goal. This happens everywhere. Maybe my work my work catches your eye because I am a known face, but the work of Saleh Uddin Ahmed or Fouzul Kabir Khan may not catch your eye. Maybe they are foinf more important work, but are not talking about it.

DS: Once a member of civil society, you are now in government. How are you perceiving this transformation?

AN: I am working hard. My favourite activities are rickshaw rides, playing tennis, going to Palashi Bazar and talking to traders, spending time with children. I can't do these things now. But I am getting appreciation and love from people.

But I also think that at a time when I am getting all this praise, what is my wife getting? She used to become restless if she didn't see me for a few hours, and now we just catch a glimpse of each other for days on end. During the movement, I was in hiding for four nights. She could not sleep, she stayed up those nights crying and praying. None of us will be able to understand this trauma. Now her life has changed, as has mine. She has to take on all the responsibilities of the family now. My work as an adviser may be praised, but no one will know of hers.

DS: It is said that the students, whose movement brought you to power are trying to dictate you. They want to achieve many things within a short time and seem a bit restless. Do you face challenges to establish your control over these students? Do you have any message for them?

AN: We talk about six coordinators among all those who organised this student movement. Many others besides them had major roles. If I talk about these six coordinators, I don't see restlessness in them. Their maturity, their sense of consciousness is incredible. And others who are not working with the government, but are with them from a distance, it is normal for them to be a little restless. From a distance, they do not understand how sincere the government is, or the hard work we have been doing.

I have only one request to everyone: don't do anything that causes people to suffer. The picture that people did not want to see, that is what happened to Dipu Moni. Have a little patience. Sometimes I hear that the principal of a certain institution is being forced to resign, teachers are being listed, journalists are being listed -- please don't do this.

Our students are not a well-organised political party. I often see helplessness in our six coordinators. Is it possible for them to control everything? They are not the head of any autocratic political party, but the head of the movement. It is not possible for them to rush everything. But their sincerity is pure. they are trying. There are two divisions among these agitators. One is actually deprived. Another is those who try to take advantage; They may even be Awami League workers, trying to blend into this movement.

I repeat, please be patient. Don't do anything that makes the revolution, which came through this infinite sacrifice, futile.

DS: Will you repeal or reform the laws that were made, including the Digital Security Act, to persecute journalists or the media?

AN: Your position on these oppressive laws and mine is not different. At one time my profession was journalism, then teaching. I still write regularly.

First of all, the application of these laws will not be the same as before. And we will review them very seriously. Stakeholders' views will prevail there.​

 

[Saif]

Chief adviser spells out mission to be accomplished

In his inaugural address to the nation on Sunday last after taking over the responsibility of the chief adviser of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus has firmly mentioned the preeminently historic mission he and his team of advisers have embarked on at the request of students. The chief advi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Chief adviser spells out mission to be accomplished
FE
Published :
Aug 26, 2024 22:36
Updated :
Aug 26, 2024 22:36

In his inaugural address to the nation on Sunday last after taking over the responsibility of the chief adviser of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus has firmly mentioned the preeminently historic mission he and his team of advisers have embarked on at the request of students. The chief adviser has also outlined the details of tasks ahead in order to bring disciplines in various sectors of national importance. Because politics and economy govern the life of citizens in general, one cannot be developed leaving the other stunted or distorted. In Bangladesh both have long been derailed and decomposed, creating social and cultural discriminations. Quite clearly, the vision of a discrimination-free, exploitation-free, welfare and open society students ---the architects of the mass movement --- have resurrected from the ashes of the nation's dream in 1971 must be translated into reality. That sacred duty of laying the foundation for such a society, the students have bestowed upon the interim government, the chief adviser affirmed, he and his team are pledge-bound to accomplish.

It is a tall order for any government only more so for an interim dispensation. When governance for long 53 years has been marked by all kinds of aberration of democratic principles and the rise of authoritarianism, oligarchy and kleptocracy, cleaning the Augean stables proves to be an uphill task. A nexus of corrupt politicians, civil and military bureaucracy has been the main beneficiaries of the creation of national wealth leaving the majority of the people to be satisfied with the trickle-down socio-economic dividends. The exploitative system has been so entrenched over the past few decades that their well-known intrigues for engineering the processes of exploitation such as raising prices irrationally, illegal toll collection, bribery, looting of colossal amounts of money from banks on several pretexts and laundering those abroad were virtually given an institutional form.

Now without addressing some of the more pressing problems infesting people's lives and livelihoods for getting things on track, even the day-to-day governance becomes an impossible proposition. The chief adviser has mentioned some of the steps already taken including the formation of a banking commission and preparation of a white paper on the state of the economy aimed at bringing order in the financial sector. Thus reform to various organisations and institutions has already begun. But here the main constraint is time. Dr Yunus does not mince words here and makes it clear about the minimum reform agenda his government would like to complete. It will certainly require a reasonable tenure even for preparing the ground for creating a liberal, democratic, non-discriminatory, non-communal society.

So the chief adviser has given the people the option to decide how long his government's tenure would be. He is quite aware of the constitutional obligation and intricacy that, after all, it is a political decision that has to be arrived at through political deliberations among different stake-holders. But he also asserts that at no point should there be left any room for undermining the people's sovereignty or, to put it bluntly, allowed to make it a police state. A national consensus on required legislative reforms has to be attained for incorporation as laws into the constitution of the republic prior to the election for whichever political party or parties come to power.​

 

[Saif]

Dr Yunus’s address and the path forward

Must work together for democracy and reforms

www.thedailystar.net

Dr Yunus’s address and the path forward
Must work together for democracy and reforms

VISUAL: STAR

In a much-awaited address to the nation, the chief adviser to the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, delivered a timely, thoughtful, and comprehensive message to the citizens. He emphasised the need to implement various reforms to institutionalise democracy in the country, attending to the most pressing demands of our people. However, we would like to remind the interim government that it has not one but two urgent tasks at hand. The first is to administer the country in these turbulent times and, simultaneously, to pursue reforms—both of which together form a mammoth task.

Given the present state of the nation, the number of reforms needed may seem endless. However, pursuing all of them is neither realistic nor achievable in the short to medium term. Nevertheless, the chief adviser mentioned that his administration has planned wide-ranging reforms that resonate with the demands of the student-led mass movement that brought down the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina. He further stated that these reforms are essential to prevent a return to being a police state, which would be a devastating outcome given the terrible suppression that people endured for 15 years and the sacrifices made by so many to end fascistic rule.

Dr Yunus also mentioned the need to form a police commission to overhaul law enforcement, a bank commission to reform the financial sector, and to conduct fair investigations into the violence that occurred in recent times. He also called for comprehensive reforms in education, the empowerment of local government bodies, and many other initiatives including taking action to ensure press freedom. The government's commitment to ensuring justice for all the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances—both anathema to any civilised society—is also praiseworthy. We will, of course, have to wait to see results. Meanwhile, we will urge the government to undertake institutional reforms that can safeguard citizens from such egregious crimes in the future as well.

Dr Yunus mentioned that the issue of elections was a political decision, and that he would leave it up to the people. Here, we would like to commend him for reminding the nation where the power truly lies—with the people. He said that the advisers of the interim government would hold dialogue with political parties to determine how decisions regarding the holding of elections would be made. He also expressed a desire to involve all stakeholders in discussions about the interim government's tenure. But he did not make it clear how that could be achieved. Here, we believe the interim government needs to form a comprehensive framework for communicating with all stakeholders in society.

In his address, Dr Yunus also invited everyone to come forward and suggest guidelines to help the government gather their input. Therein lies the opportunity for civic engagement. Moving forward, we hope that the people will work together and help in ongoing efforts to ensure that this opportunity for reforming the nation is not squandered again.​