Bangladesh interim chief Yunus not interested in being part of new elected govt
Bangladesh's interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said that he would not be interested in being part of the next elected government, reported news agency PTI.
84-year-old Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus took over the government in August, 2024, after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Yunus announced last week that national elections will be held by the first half of April 2026.
Also Read: Bangladesh to hold elections in April 2026, announces interim leader Muhammad Yunus
"No way, no way. I think no one of our cabinet members (Council of Advisers) would like to do that," he said, in response to a question on whether he has any desire to become part of the next democratically elected government.
During the session at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in Chatham House, London, he added, 'We want to make sure that the election is right. This is a very critical factor for us."
Also Read: 'Spirit of mutual respect': What Bangladesh's Yunus said in reply to PM Modi's Eid greetings
Yunus also questioned whether Sheikh Hasina's Awami League qualified as a political party when they were accused of killing young people, causing disappearances and stealing public money.
Saddam Hussain, President of the Bangladesh Students League, the student wing of the Awami League, called the announcement of the national elections a 'state-sponsored drama.'
Also Read: Bangladesh minister says Muhammad Yunus not going to step down: 'He doesn't hanker after power'
'The elections are not the priority of this government. This is just a state-sponsored drama. They will use this for their own purpose. They banned the Bangladesh Awami League. The people of Bangladesh are waiting for a democratic representative to govern the country,' he said.
He added, 'The present government has no control over the law and order situation. For restoring democracy in Bangladesh, we have no other option than the removal of this current fascist regime. Muhammad Yunus is using the state machinery for his own personal agenda."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Record of Pakistan on terrorism very clear: MEA on top US general hailing ties with Pak
'We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,' US Army General Michael Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), had said. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal's remarks at his weekly media briefing here came in response to a query on the recent comments made by a top US general on Washington's ties with New Delhi and with Islamabad. New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) Pakistan's record on terrorism is 'very clear' and the Pahalgam attack is only the recent example of cross-border terrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. 'We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has,' the US general said during a testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee. Briefing the media here, Jaiswal said, 'The record of Pakistan, of what Pakistan is, is very clear'. 'We all know the Pahalgam attack is only the recent example of cross-border terrorism. I would remind you that only recently one of the conspirators of the 26/11 attack, Tahawwur Rana was extradited from the United States to India. 'Obviously, none of us have forgotten that Pakistan gave shelter to Osama bin Laden. It is significant that the person, and you would be aware, Dr Shakil Afridi, who helped locate Osama bin Laden, is still imprisoned by the Pakistani military,' he said. The MEA spokesperson was also asked about reports suggesting that Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has received an invitation to attend the US Army Day celebrations on June 14. 'On invitation part, I would urge you to be better informed as to who are the people who are invited, there are foreign leaders who have been invited or not. Take your questions to the American side, they will be in a better position to answer it,' Jaiswal told reporters. He was also asked about the India-Bangladesh ties during the media interaction. 'Our ties with Bangladesh is well-known, I have said from this podium several times. We want a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh that is anchored in the aspirations of the people of the two countries,' he said. He was also asked if India is monitoring the situation in West Asia. 'We are following the development very closely. And, yes, we have a large diaspora population in that region. Our embassies all across the region, they are in touch with our community members also guiding them on their safety and security,' Jaiswal said. PTI KND RHL RHL This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
'Willing to enhance dialogue': China on lifting export curbs on rare earth metals to India
China on Thursday signaled openness to talks with India over its export restrictions on rare earth materials, saying it is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with relevant countries to help maintain stable industrial supply chains read more China on Thursday signaled openness to talks with India over its export restrictions on rare earth materials, saying it is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with relevant countries to help maintain stable industrial supply chains. Beijing's recent curbs on the export of critical metals have disrupted manufacturing sectors globally, including in India, impacting industries such as automotive and semiconductor production. 'We are willing to enhance dialogue and cooperation with relevant countries and regions to jointly keep the stability of global industrial and supply chains,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told PTI when asked whether China plans to lift its export restrictions on rare earth metals to India, especially as it has started approving export licences to the US and the EU. While offering no direct assurance, Lin reiterated that specific details should be addressed by the relevant Chinese authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is in contact with Chinese counterparts to ensure greater predictability in the supply chain, in line with international trade norms. 'We have been in touch with the Chinese side, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and general administration of customs in early April, as you would be aware, had announced the decision to implement export controls on certain rare earth-related items. 'We are in touch with the Chinese side, both here in Delhi as also in Beijing, to bring predictability in supply chain for trade, consistent with international practices,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in response to a query on Thursday. On June 16, Indian Ambassador Pradeep Kumar Rawat met with Chinese Vice Minister Sun Weidong to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including shared concerns, PTI quoted a statement from China's foreign ministry. The meeting comes amid growing alarm in India over shortages of rare earth metals, crucial for the automotive, electronics, and renewable energy sectors. Reports from India have highlighted industry-wide disruptions stemming from China's recent export restrictions on these critical materials. China, which holds a dominant position in the global rare earths market, has recently begun selectively clearing export licences, particularly to the United States, following two days of high-level trade talks in London. The move came as both nations agreed to ease tensions, with US President Donald Trump declaring on Wednesday that a trade deal with China 'is done.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rare earth elements, comprising 17 metallic elements, are vital for the production of magnets, batteries, and high-tech devices. While these metals are found in multiple countries, their extraction is expensive and environmentally hazardous, often leaving China as the preferred global supplier. According to the International Energy Agency, China accounts for 61% of global rare earth mining and 92% of processing output. Although China has opened dialogue with the US and EU to address concerns over supply shortages, it has yet to publicly respond to India's request for similar talks. In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs said it is engaging with the Chinese side to ensure stability and predictability in trade supply chains. Meanwhile, an Indian industry delegation, comprising representatives from the auto sector, is reportedly preparing to visit China to secure rare earth magnet imports for domestic manufacturers, sources in New Delhi said. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tagore's Ancestral House vandalised in Bangladesh: Despicable, says India; Mamata asks PM to ‘build global pressure on Dhaka' to act
India on Thursday condemned the ransacking of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh by a mob, terming the violent attack a 'disgrace' to the memory and inclusive philosophy espoused by the poet. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought his intervention for 'a strong international protest', which she said, 'would at least deter in future any attack on monuments of cultural legacies'. On Tuesday, a mob vandalised the ancestral home of Tagore at Kachharibari in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh. Rabindra Kachharibari, also known as the Rabindra Memorial Museum, was the revenue office of the Tagore family where he wrote several literary works. Tagore's grandfather, Dwarkanath Tagore, had built the two-storey mansion in 1840. In Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the interim government in Bangladesh to rein in these elements and take 'strict action' against the perpetrators to prevent recurrence of such incidents. 'We strongly condemn the despicable act, attack and vandalisation of the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by a mob,' the MEA spokesperson said, adding the attack falls in the 'broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic cultural legacy of Bangladesh'. The Bangladesh authorities have constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident, according to media reports in Bangladesh. In the letter to the Prime Minister, Banerjee urged him to 'take up the matter very strongly' with the Bangladesh government. 'Although untold damage has already been done, a strong international protest would at least deter any attack on monuments of cultural legacies in the future… What has been vandalised is not a mere house, but a towering fountain of creativity in our subcontinent,' she wrote. 'The incident of vandalism is not only shocking, but also unfortunate for our national pride and cultural legacy. It is a vile attack on our sensibilities, our cherished treasures, and our common nostalgia for a past when Tagore could transcend all thresholds in pursuit of his immortal creations,' she wrote. CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby called the ransacking of Tagore's ancestral home 'highly deplorable'. 'Great cultural icons shouldn't be targeted for petty interests. Tagore wrote the national anthems for both India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh govt should act against the vandals,' Baby said. The BJP also condemned the attack, calling it 'an assault on the very soul of India's rich cultural and civilizational heritage'. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra called for global denunciation of the incident targeting the legacy of the iconic Indian personality, as he described it as a 'preplanned' attack orchestrated by Islamic groups. He also targeted the West Bengal chief minister, accusing her of 'not raising the issue'. She sees infiltrators from neighbouring Bangladesh as a vote bank and has opted to keep quiet for political reasons,' he alleged. BJP leaders in poll-bound West Bengal called it 'a wake-up call for the Hindus' in the state. Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, who posted a purported video of the attack, said: 'When extremist forces gain ground, they spare no one; not even a figure revered worldwide like Tagore…. This serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting our cultural heritage, especially in demographically volatile regions. When the demography changes, and a number of such elements increase, they will not hesitate to target our temples, our culture, and our way of life, as it can already be witnessed in Malda, Murshidabad, and Maheshtala.' With PTI
