Restoration of law and order is the biggest issue facing Bangladesh now, and if that cannot be achieved, there will be a spillover effect in neighboring countries, including India, Dr. Muhammad Yunus told NDTV in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina having been ousted, the situation has improved, but the country must ensure that the celebratory mood doesn't turn ugly. "People should get back home after celebrations and it should be business as usual from morning," he said.
Asked about who was controlling the protesters and the seriousness of the consequences if they cannot be brought under control, Yunus said it "would not be a very happy situation."
"If you destabilize Bangladesh, it will spill over all around, including Myanmar and the seven sisters in West Bengal," he told NDTV. "It will be a volcanic eruption everywhere around us and in Myanmar... and it would be a bigger problem because a million Rohingyas are here," he said.
Describing the situation, Yunus highlighted that there are 170 million people in Bangladesh, most of whom are young and have never voted. "You have to make sure they are happy and law-abiding citizens and that they know there's a democracy. These young people never voted in their life. They never went to the polling booth because those elections were never held. Our starting point is we have to get to talk to the young people," he added.
