17/08/2024;Bangladesh interim govt vows fair, free elections: Yunus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the third edition of the Voice of Global South Summit via video conferencing from New Delhi on August 17, 2024. Joining him were Bangladesh’s interim government head, Mohammad Yunus, along with other world leaders.

It was a caretaker government of Bangladesh that remained committed to pave the way for a transition to an inclusive and pluralistic democracy that ensures the conditions for “free, fair, and participatory elections”, Mohammad Yunus assured the international community on Saturday.

Mr. Yunus, Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, was addressing the third Voice of Global South Summit being held virtually in New Delhi. He invoked the “Second Revolution” in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, that was brought about through a mass upheaval led by the students which compelled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to demit office.

Our government remains committed to overseeing a transition to a truly inclusive and pluralistic democracy, ensuring free, fair, and participatory elections can take place,” Mr. Yunus said, highlighting that the interim government was sworn in on August 8. He took over as leader amid ongoing violence, including attacks on minorities.

“Our priority now is to implement critical reforms in our electoral system, judiciary, local governance, media, economy, and education,” added Mr. Yunus, while addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit.

“I invite you to come to Dhaka as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will miss something big. Large parts of Dhaka have become a graffiti capital — young students, even children of 12-13 years, have decorated the walls of this 400-year-old city with their perceptions of a new democratic, green Bangladesh,” he said.

“There was no central coordination or guidance for this movement, no financial backing from any organization. It was purely driven by their emotions and commitment to the ideals of the Second Revolution,” said the venerable economist.

Former Prime Minister Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 after resigning in the face of an unprecedented wave of student-led anti-government protests.

What started off as an agitation by students for reforms in job quotas in government jobs escalated into a full-fledged movement that brought down the government at the beginning of August.

Mr. Yunus also commented, “We have to put the youth and the students at the forefront of all strategic thinking because they represent a large part of the population in the Global South. Two-thirds of our population comprises the young. They are the powerful force, different in their commitment to create a new world. They have the technological capacity far superior to that of the earlier generations.” He also spoke about the role of reforming the financial system to permit more fair distribution of wealth.

“We cannot afford to have the flow of wealth in one direction. It is important that access to finance reaches all sections, particularly women and youth. There is so much to learn from each other regarding how to do it.” He even invoked ‘The Bengali language movement’ of 1952.

“In 1952, the students of Bangladesh laid down their lives for their mother tongue. Their sacrifice inspired the language rights movements across the world.”. Now, nearly seven decades later, our student-led Second Revolution is inspiring young people across the Global South to rise for democracy, human rights, dignity, equality, and shared prosperity.” He continued, “I am proud to be the oldest ‘young person’ to be part of this revolution, working to make their dreams a reality. They count on your support, all of you,” Mr. Yunus stressed.

“Age shouldn’t signal the end of economic participation. Human creativity doesn’t stop at an arbitrary retirement age dictated by the state. It goes on until our dying breath. We should create societies that encourage creativity in people of all ages, until the end of life,” said the economist in his eighties.

During the anti-government demonstrations in Bangladesh, more than 230 people lost their lives as the country plunged into violence after the Hasina government collapsed on August 5, bringing the total death toll to 560 during the three weeks of unrest.

MrSingtv.com