Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has declared that arranging national elections at the earliest possible moment is the foremost priority of his interim government.
“Our administration is firmly committed to holding a free, fair and inclusive election as soon as the necessary reforms are complete,” Yunus said, addressing the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok on Friday (4 April).
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s July uprising, Yunus invoked the nation’s sacrifices during the 1971 Liberation War, when millions of ordinary men, women, and children endured a brutal military crackdown over nine harrowing months.
“Our people dreamt of an inclusive, just and free society where every citizen could realise their full potential,” said Yunus.
However, he lamented, the last 15 years had witnessed a steady erosion of rights and liberties—especially for the youth—who had seen the decay of state institutions and a systematic disregard for civil rights.
Touching on the recent uprising, he noted that ordinary citizens had overthrown a ruthless autocratic regime, though the struggle claimed nearly 2,000 lives—most of them young people—including 118 children.
“Bangladesh has witnessed a renaissance,” Yunus said.
He acknowledged that student leaders who spearheaded the popular movement against the corrupt and authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina had urged him to lead the nation through this transitional phase.
“In the interest of our people, I agreed to assume this responsibility,” Yunus said.
The interim government, he added, is committed to implementing bold and far-reaching reforms aimed at restoring economic stability and sustainable growth.
“We are resolute in our pledge to establish good governance, combat corruption, and instil discipline across all sectors of the economy. These are the central tenets of our reform agenda,” said the chief adviser.
He noted that six commissions have already been formed to initiate reforms in the judiciary, electoral system, civil administration, police, anti-corruption mechanisms, and the constitution—with the aim of ensuring accountability, public ownership and social welfare.
These commissions have submitted their recommendations, now under active consideration by the government.
Yunus announced the formation of a seven-member National Consensus Commission, which he chairs, comprising the heads of the six reform commissions. This body is tasked with reviewing and adopting the submitted proposals.
“As we rebuild Bangladesh, we are steadfast in our resolve to guarantee the constitutional rights of every citizen—whether they are women, or members of ethnic or religious minorities,” he concluded.
The summit was attended by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey, and heads of member states.
