Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus has said the previous Awami League regime led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “destroyed everything,” as he pledged to hold general elections only after ushering in constitutional and judicial reforms, including an electoral overhaul.
He said this in an exclusive interview with Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia on Saturday last as the inter-view was published on its website on Monday.
“We need comprehensive reforms in the economy, governance, bureaucracy and judiciary [before hold-ing elections],” the chief adviser said.
Bangladesh’s interim government has established several commissions to promote reforms in areas such as the electoral system, constitution and judiciary, Nikkei report quoted him as saying.
Prof Yunus said the government would implement full-scale reforms after receiving recommendations from those commissions by January.
He said, “Implementing these reforms will take time, as we are essentially building a ‘new Bangladesh’ from scratch.”
Asked if he would run in the election, he rejected the idea, saying, “No, I’m not a politician. I’ve always stayed away from politics.”
“Individuals who uphold principles, follow rules and procedures, and are free from corruption” should stand for election”, he added.
