DHAKA, Dec 4: Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim Government, has declared that the Sheikh Hasina administration has “destroyed everything.” He emphasized the need for constitutional and judicial reforms before general elections can be held, according to an interview reported by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha in a Japanese newspaper.
The 84-year-old Nobel Prize winner, in his discussion with Nikkei Asia, stated, “We require comprehensive reforms in the economy, governance, bureaucracy, and judiciary (before proceeding with elections).”
Yunus reiterated his call for India to extradite Hasina following the conclusion of her trial in the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.
“As soon as the trial is over and a verdict is delivered, we will formally seek India’s assistance in handing her over,” Yunus remarked, noting that due to international agreements between the two nations, “India would be compelled to comply.”
He criticized the Indian government’s concerns regarding the safety of Hindus as being based on unfounded claims, considering much of it as “propaganda.”
Relations between the two countries have soured since Sheikh Hasina’s ousting as prime minister in August, with India voicing worries about the targeting of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh. This concern was amplified following the recent arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Yunus also mentioned the proposal to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which he believes has stagnated due to the tensions between India and Pakistan.
On Tuesday, Bangladesh summoned the Indian ambassador to its Foreign Office and declared a suspension of consular services at its mission in Agartala, Tripura, following a breach by protesters.
Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das’s bail hearing in a sedition case was postponed to January 2 after no lawyers appeared for him, with his supporters asserting that his attorneys are facing threats.
In the interview, Yunus highlighted that the interim government has set up several commissions to propose reforms in the electoral system, constitution, and judiciary.
He indicated that full-scale reforms would be implemented by January, pending recommendations from these commissions.
“These reforms will take time because we are essentially creating a new Bangladesh from the ground up,” he stated.
Yunus clarified that he is not considering running for the elections. “No, I’m not a politician. I’ve always avoided politics,” he expressed in the interview.
“The governance structure of the country has been utterly dismantled during Hasina’s 15-year tenure, leaving us with the considerable task of rebuilding it by reinstating democracy, economic stability, and public trust,” he elaborated.
He added, “Under her governance, democratic principles have been completely neglected. She has conducted sham elections with no voter participation for three consecutive terms, declaring herself and her party the winners without opposition and ruling as a fascist leader.” (PTI)
