In a recent address to the nation, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, stated that the timing of the upcoming elections is entirely a political decision. Dr. Yunus, a Nobel laureate economist, highlighted the circumstances under which he assumed his role as Chief Adviser and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building a liberal, democratic, non-discriminatory, and secular Bangladesh.
Dr. Yunus took the oath as Chief Adviser on August 8, following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina’s government amid widespread student and public protests. Over two weeks after his swearing-in, Dr. Yunus delivered his first speech to the nation, outlining the interim government’s initial steps towards implementing reforms.
“The interim government has already begun the process of reforms,” Dr. Yunus stated. He urged citizens to engage in a national dialogue about the essential tasks that must be completed during the interim period and what can be left unfinished. He emphasized that this dialogue would help the government gain direction, but ultimately, “the final decision is a political decision. Political decisions will arise from political discussions. Without such guidance, we cannot proceed with confidence in negotiations with donor agencies and international financial institutions.”
Dr. Yunus noted that the interim government’s advisers assumed their roles at the request of the students during a national crisis. “We are committed to fulfilling this responsibility with all our strength,” he said. “Our advisory council is motivated and working together as a team to achieve our goals.” He added, “The decision on when elections will be held is entirely political; it is not ours to make. The people must decide when we can step down.”
Acknowledging the support from the students and the general public for the interim government’s appointment, Dr. Yunus stressed that they would continuously remind everyone of this to prevent any sudden questions about their tenure. “We will leave when the people say we should,” he assured.
As part of the ongoing reforms, Dr. Yunus also announced plans to reform the Election Commission, ensuring that it is prepared to conduct an ideal election whenever necessary.
