'Brutal Hasina dictatorship' destroyed every institution, Yunus tells foreign diplomats

Key takeaways

• Elections once vital reforms are carried
• Hasina govt destroyed all institutions to cling to power
• Security forces, BCL committed country's worst massacre since 71
• Won't tolerate any attempt to disrupt global clothing supply chain
• Need sustained effort of int'l community to repatriate Rohingyas
• Armed forces will continue to aid civil power as long as situation warrants

Chief Adviser to the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus on Sunday told foreign diplomats that he had taken over a country left "in many ways a complete mess" following the "brutal dictatorship" of Sheikh Hasina. 

"The top priority of the Interim government would be to bring the law and order situation under control…The armed forces will continue to serve in aid of civil power as long as the situation warrants," he conveyed to the international partners at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.

While briefing the diplomats for the first time since the formation of the interim government on 8 August, the chief adviser reiterated that the government remains pledge-bound to ensure safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups.

He also paid tributes to students and young people who sacrificed their lives and incurred injuries during the quota reform movement and the subsequent violence resulting in the fall of the Hasina government.

He also mentioned the election and said it would be held as soon as possible, but vital reforms are needed first. 

More than 50 diplomats of different countries including resident representatives of the United Nations agencies in Dhaka were present at the event.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media following the meeting.

Vital reforms

Conveying the responsibility on the interim government's shoulders, Dr Yunus said, "I must succeed. We have no other option."

Highlighting the current situation, he said, "In their efforts to stay in power, the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country. Judiciary was broken. Democratic rights were suppressed through a brutal decade-and-a-half long crackdown. Elections were rigged blatantly. Generations of young people grew up without exercising their voting rights. Banks were robbed with full political patronisation. And the state coffer was plundered by abusing power."

In this regard, he stressed the need for "robust and far-reaching economic reforms" to restore macroeconomic stability and sustained growth, with priority given to good governance and combating corruption.

Vowing to hold free, fair and participatory elections soon, he, however, said it would be held "as soon as we can complete our mandate to carry out vital reforms in our election commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and media".

He also said they would also promote national reconciliation, while also adhering to all regional, international and bilateral instruments Bangladesh is party to.

"We look forward to maintaining and enhancing Bangladesh's contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations," he added.

Need for justice

In an emotional start to the programme, Yunus paid homage to the students and masses who made the "supreme sacrifice" in deposing the former government.

"Hundreds of thousands of our valiant students and people rose up against the brutal dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina. She fled the country – but only after the security forces and her party's student wing committed the country's worst civilian massacre since the country's independence," said Dr Yunus.

Mentioning the toll of the uprising, he said, "Students of no other countries in our recent memory had to pay so much a price for expressing their democratic aspirations, dreaming a discrimination-free, equitable and environmentally-friendly nation where human rights of every citizen are fully protected."

Recounting a visit to students in hospitals, he said, "One young person told me, 'I wanted to be a cricketer. Look what has happened to my legs'. There is no way to describe what the young generation of Bangladesh had to endure to ensure that their rights were protected."

Yunus again reiterated the call for justice for these crimes, saying, "We have also made it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all the killings and violence committed during the recent mass uprising."

He welcomed the UN rights office's move to send a UN-led fact finding mission. "We want an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the massacre and subsequent due judicial processes. We will provide whatever support the UN investigators need."

International trade

Briefing the diplomats, Dr Yunus also touched upon the issue of international trade. 

"We call upon our trade and investment partners to maintain their trust in Bangladesh for economic prosperity. For our part, we won't tolerate any attempt to disrupt the global clothing supply chain in which we are a key player," he said. 

He also expressed belief that the international community will stand by the government and people as "we chart a new democratic future". 

Rohingya issue

On the Rohingya issue, Dr Yunus said Bangladesh would continue to shelter the million plus refugees already in the country.

"We need sustained efforts of the international community for Rohingya humanitarian operations and their eventual repatriation to their homeland, Myanmar, with safety, dignity and full rights," he said.

Encouraged by the words of support by international friends and partners, he said, the government will nurture friendly relations with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding and shared interests.