Chief advisor pledges massive reforms in state structure

Illustration: TBS

Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus has pledged to bring necessary reforms to all levels of the state structure, including the judiciary, electoral system, economy, local government, education, and media.

He said the young generation has impressed upon the people their aspirations for a revolutionary change, restoration of all institutions of the state to ensure democracy and human rights through a meaningful reform.

"Our task is now to carry out vital reforms in our electoral system, judiciary, local government, media, economy and education," he said while speaking virtually at the third "Voice of Global South" summit hosted by India today.

Besides, the interim government is committed to ensuring a transition to inclusive and pluralistic democracy and creating an environment in which free, fair and participatory elections can be held, he said. 

At the event, Dr Yunus highlighted the need for utilising the power of youth and their creativity to solve social and environmental problems. He also urged older people not to withdraw from economic activities. 

The chief adviser said Bangladesh's financial system needs to be redesigned in a way that makes sure wealth is shared by all and unleash entrepreneurship and creativity.

The Nobel laureate mentioned that his life-long experience has been that Bangladesh's financial system is created to promote wealth concentration. However, it should not be a "one-way path for wealth" or a "wall for anybody". 

"We must ensure financial services for all people, particularly women and youth. We can learn from each other how this can be done successfully," he added.

Known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor", Dr Yunus said social business banks can be encouraged to be created for solving problems such as poverty and unemployment.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Dr Yunus to attend the Summit. This was Dr Yunus's first multilateral engagement after taking oath as head of interim government.

The theme of the Inaugural Leaders' Session is the same as the overarching theme of the Summit, "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future".

Students at the heart of strategies

Dr Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner,  said they must place the youth and students, who constitute a significant portion of the Global South's population, at the heart of their strategies.

"Youth and students are capable and they are technologically far ahead of the previous generation," he said. "They can make all the impossible possible. They are entrepreneurial." 

"Jobs they want, not because they enjoy it but because there is nothing else available, just because they are prepared by an education system in all our countries to get ready for jobs. Their creative capacities are forgotten. Yet, all human beings are born as creative beings. They are natural entrepreneurs," he said.

Prof Yunus further said the creative capacities of the youth are forgotten. "Yet, all human beings are born as creative beings. They are natural entrepreneurs. But our education system and financial system are built only for creating job seekers and providing jobs for them."

Combining entrepreneurship with social business can create miracles, he said, adding that they would like to propose some common facilities in the global south to take concrete steps to unleash the creativity and energy of the young population through social business.

He invited leaders of the global south to work together for creating social businesses to address all environmental and social problems. "It can become a massive force if we work together."

Dr Yunus also said being old should not mean that "you have to retire, withdraw yourself from economic activities". He said human creativity never stops on a date fixed by the state. 

"It doesn't stop until the last breath. We may work together to see how to make societies supportive of the creativity of all people as long as they live," added the chief adviser. 

Graffiti capital of the world

At the summit, the chief adviser invited foreign friends to visit Dhaka soon, saying, "I invite you to visit Dhaka soon. Otherwise you may miss something important. Much of Dhaka has turned into the graffiti capital of the world." 

He added that young students and children aged as young as 12-13 have been painting the walls of this 400 year old city with images of a "new democratic" environment- friendly Bangladesh.

He said there is no central planning or guidance for that. "No budget support from anybody. It is just an outpouring of their emotions and commitment to the goals of the Second Revolution."

In 1952, the Bangladeshi students sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue. It inspired struggles for the right to speak in mother language all over the world. "Some seven decades later our students-led Second Revolution is inspiring youth throughout the global south to raise their voice for democracy, human rights, dignity, equality and shared prosperity," he added. 

"I am honoured to be the oldest 'young person' to take part in this revolution and help them make their dreams come true. They need support from all of you. Wish them all the success."