Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that, in light of the current situation in Bangladesh, people still believe that the interim government is the best solution for them.
Yunus also mentioned that during a meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit, he asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “keep Sheikh Hasina quiet.” However, Modi replied that he could not do that.
Professor Yunus made these remarks during an interview on Al Jazeera’s global leaders program Talk to Al Jazeera.
The interview, titled “Muhammad Yunus: Real Reform or Just a New Ruling Class in Bangladesh?” was published on Al Jazeera’s website on Sunday.
In the interview, the host asked Yunus if it was fair to say that the “honeymoon” after Sheikh Hasina’s fall might be over, noting that major challenges remain, including the influence of old power circles and the presence of millions of Rohingya refugees. He asked whether Bangladesh could solve these issues alone.
In response, Professor Yunus said: “Two things: First, regarding people’s impatience — whether or not the honeymoon is over — seeing the situation in Bangladesh, people believe that the interim government is still the best solution for them. They are not demanding the end of the interim government. No one is saying, ‘Let the caretaker government go; let’s have elections today.’ We are not facing a situation where people are demanding an immediate handover.”
Speaking on the Rohingya issue separately, Yunus said, “We are working with international organizations and the United Nations to ensure that the Rohingya can return home safely. Our concern is to foster an understanding between Bangladesh and Myanmar so that the Rohingyas can return and be safely resettled in their own homes.”
In the interview, Professor Yunus also expressed his commitment to bringing about meaningful reforms, eliminating past irregularities and corruption, and ensuring the best election the country has seen so far.
He mentioned that if the list of reforms is short, elections could be held by December; if longer, by June next year — but not later than June.
When asked whether the Awami League would be allowed to participate in the elections, Yunus replied that part of that decision depends on the Awami League itself.
“They must first decide whether they want to participate. They have not announced anything yet,” he said, adding that the Election Commission’s response and other factors would also play a role.
Asked whether the Chief Advisor was leaving the decision of the Awami League’s participation entirely to the Election Commission, Yunus clarified that it wasn’t just up to the Commission.
“There are other parties who might claim they cannot participate under certain laws,” he explained.
Journalist Neave Barker asked Yunus about Sheikh Hasina’s claim that she is still the legitimate Prime Minister of Bangladesh and about her statements from India.
Yunus replied, “During the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, I spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I explicitly asked him to ensure that Sheikh Hasina refrains from making provocative statements while she is there because they are causing significant problems for us. She is making statements to provoke the Bangladeshi people, and we are suffering the consequences.”
When asked how Modi responded, Yunus said, “If I remember correctly, he said, ‘This is a country (India) where social media is open to everyone. I cannot control it.'”
The interviewer then asked whether Yunus thought India was providing political asylum to Sheikh Hasina to protect her from facing justice back home and whether Bangladesh could exert pressure on India.
Yunus replied that Bangladesh had already sent a letter to the Indian government requesting her return, but they had yet to receive a response. He added that once the legal process begins, the court will issue a notice to Hasina, and it will then be seen how she can be brought back.
