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The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Yunus expresses hope for presenting the July Charter in Bangladesh next month
The students who led and participated in the July Uprising in Bangladesh have announced plans to issue a July Declaration. - Reuters DHAKA: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday (June 6) expressed the hope that the government will be able to prepare a comprehensive 'July Charter', based on the consensus of all political parties, and present it to the nation next month. "The students who led and participated in the July Uprising have announced plans to issue a July Declaration. They invited me to be part of it. I suggested that it would be more meaningful if the declaration is issued jointly by all political leaders, representatives of civil society and others," he said in a televised address to the nation in the evening. He emphasised that the July Charter would serve as a unified national commitment, reflecting the shared vision of political forces and the proposals recommended by the reform commissions. "This charter is a promise," he said, adding, "It will include a list of reform proposals, agreed upon by all parties, aimed at building a welfare-oriented state. By signing it, the parties will pledge to implement these reforms." Prof Yunus reiterated the government's commitment to initiating and carrying forward the necessary reforms outlined in the charter. "We are committed to implementing the urgent reforms as per the July Charter," he stated. "We also intend to begin work on other key initiatives, which we hope the elected government will carry forward." Highlighting the significance of national unity and reform, he said they must move forward with resolve and unity. There is no alternative. "Through implementation of the charter, we will present a new, cohesive image of Bangladesh to the world – one that reflects our strength and solidarity as a nation." He also lauded the establishment of the Consensus Commission, calling it a courageous and unprecedented initiative. "No other country has seen such a model. Through this, we have discovered new political depth as a nation," he said. Prof Yunus praised the intensive engagement of all political parties with the commission. "Their group-wise preparations, lengthy and intense discussions aired live on national television-and unwavering efforts to achieve consensus will remain a landmark moment in our political history," he noted. "On behalf of the nation, I thank all political parties for their patience, cooperation, and courtesy. I hope they will soon finalise their remaining work and present a complete July Charter that sets a lasting direction for the country." - The Daily Star/ANN
Scroll.in
25-05-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Muhammad Yunus to continue as Bangladesh interim government chief, says adviser
Muhammad Yunus will continue as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, PTI quoted an adviser in his cabinet as having said on Saturday. This came two days after one of his key allies claimed that Yunus had been considering his resignation. 'He [Yunus] did not say he will leave,' Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters after an unscheduled meeting of the advisory council. 'He said that while we face many obstacles in carrying out the work and responsibilities assigned to us, we are overcoming them.' Stating that Yunus was 'definitely staying', Mahmud added that none of the advisers were going anywhere as 'the responsibility entrusted to us is a significant one; we cannot abandon this duty'. Yunus, a Nobel laureate economist, took over as chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government three days after Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister and fled to India on August 5. Hasina fled after several weeks of widespread student-led protests against her Awami League government. On Thursday, Yunus told leaders from the student-led National Citizen Party that he was mulling resignation because he felt that 'the situation is such that he cannot work', PTI reported. He cited difficulties in working amid the failure of political parties to find common ground for change. Following this, Members of the advisory council joined an abruptly called closed-door meeting on Saturday after a scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area in Dhaka. Later in the day, the advisory council stated that the two-hour-long meeting included detailed discussions on 'three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms and justice'. The statement read: 'The council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public.' The advisory council believed that a broader unity was essential to maintain national stability, organise free and fair elections, justice and reform, and permanently prevent the return of authoritarianism in the country, it added. The council also stated that the interim government would listen to the views of political parties and clarify its position on the matter. 'The interim government continued to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests despite all obstacles,' it added. 'However, if – under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy – the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people.' The interim government upholds the public expectations of the July Uprising,' said the council. 'But if the government's autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps.' The development comes amid reports of tension between the interim government and the country's military over a possible timeline for holding the parliamentary elections, PTI reported. The discord also allegedly arises from a policy issue related to Bangladesh's security affairs involving a proposed humanitarian corridor of aid channel to Myanmar's rebel-held Rakhine state. Hold polls by December: Bangladesh Nationalist Party Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday asked Yunus' interim government to hold the parliamentary elections by December, PTI reported. It also called for the reconstitution of Yunus' cabinet by removing 'controversial advisers'. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has emerged as a key player in the political arena after Hasina's Awami League was ousted in August. 'We have called for completing the reforms quickly and holding the national election by December,' the news agency quoted Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's highest policy-making standing committee, after meeting the chief adviser.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pushed into corner, Bangladesh's Yunus cites 'foreign conspiracy' behind poor governance
Dhaka: Confronting a major political crisis after a chaotic last few months, the interim government in Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus on Saturday blamed "defeated forces" and "foreign conspiracy" for obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public. Yunus chaired a two-hour long unscheduled meeting of the Advisory Council at the Planning Commission office in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon amid increasing political tensions and growing speculation over the stability and continuity of the interim government which had also reportedly led to him offering resignation from the post of Chief Advisor. "Despite all obstacles, the Interim Government continues to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests. However, if — under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy — the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people," read a statement issued by the Advisory Council after the meeting. "The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public," the statement detailed. The meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council included detailed discussions on three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice. "The Advisory Council believes that a broader unity is essential to maintain national stability, organise a free and fair elections, justice, and reform, and permanently prevent the return of authoritarianism in the country. On this matter, the Interim Government will listen to the views of political parties and clarify its own position," it added. Several political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and even the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday demanded that the interim government announce a clear roadmap for upcoming national elections. As pressure increased on Yunus, he had also expressed his desire to resign out of frustration - a development that had created a huge buzz in political circles across the country. "The Interim Government upholds the public expectations of the July Uprising. But if the government's autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps," the statement issued by the Advisory Council added. Speaking to local media after the meeting, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that the interim government would not quit until completing its assigned responsibilities. "We are not going anywhere till our job is done. The future of the country for many years will depend on it. We cannot leave this responsibility," he added. In a separate development, BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders stated that they will hold meetings with Yunus at his official residence Jamuna, on Saturday evening, a development which has been confirmed by the Chief Advisor's press wing. Reports suggest that the meetings are being conducted as part of Yunus's efforts to defuse political tensions. 'We have been invited by the Chief Advisor's office to hold a meeting over the latest political situation,' Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted a BNP standing committee member as saying. The BNP leader further said that they would request Yunus to announce a roadmap for the election within 2025, and complete the reform process as soon as possible. Protests, political uncertainty and increasing incidents of crime and violence have gripped Bangladesh since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, last August. Parties like the BNP had repeatedly been warning of street protests if the interim government fails to provide an electoral road map. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman also stated that the next national election should be held by December and an elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026 after concluding "free and fair" polls.
India.com
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pushed Into Corner, Bangladeshs Yunus Cites Foreign Conspiracy Behind Poor Governance
Confronting a major political crisis after a chaotic last few months, the interim government in Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus on Saturday blamed "defeated forces" and "foreign conspiracy" for obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public. Yunus chaired a two-hour long unscheduled meeting of the Advisory Council at the Planning Commission office in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon amid increasing political tensions and growing speculation over the stability and continuity of the interim government which had also reportedly led to him offering resignation from the post of Chief Advisor. "Despite all obstacles, the Interim Government continues to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests. However, if — under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy — the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people," read a statement issued by the Advisory Council after the meeting. "The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public," the statement detailed. The meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council included detailed discussions on three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice. "The Advisory Council believes that a broader unity is essential to maintain national stability, organise a free and fair elections, justice, and reform, and permanently prevent the return of authoritarianism in the country. On this matter, the Interim Government will listen to the views of political parties and clarify its own position," it added. Several political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and even the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday demanded that the interim government announce a clear roadmap for upcoming national elections. As pressure increased on Yunus, he had also expressed his desire to resign out of frustration - a development that had created a huge buzz in political circles across the country. "The Interim Government upholds the public expectations of the July Uprising. But if the government's autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps," the statement issued by the Advisory Council added. Speaking to local media after the meeting, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that the interim government would not quit until completing its assigned responsibilities. "We are not going anywhere till our job is done. The future of the country for many years will depend on it. We cannot leave this responsibility," he added. In a separate development, BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders stated that they will hold meetings with Yunus at his official residence Jamuna, on Saturday evening, a development which has been confirmed by the Chief Advisor's press wing. Reports suggest that the meetings are being conducted as part of Yunus's efforts to defuse political tensions. 'We have been invited by the Chief Advisor's office to hold a meeting over the latest political situation,' Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted a BNP standing committee member as saying. The BNP leader further said that they would request Yunus to announce a roadmap for the election within 2025, and complete the reform process as soon as possible. Protests, political uncertainty and increasing incidents of crime and violence have gripped Bangladesh since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, last August. Parties like the BNP had repeatedly been warning of street protests if the interim government fails to provide an electoral road map. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman also stated that the next national election should be held by December and an elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026 after concluding "free and fair" polls.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Yunus to stay on as Bangladesh interim head, quells resignation buzz
DHAKA: Muhammad Yunus will remain as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, an adviser in his cabinet said on Saturday, two days after a key ally said he had mulled resignation. "He (Yunus) didn't say he will leave. He said that while we face many obstacles in carrying out the work and responsibilities assigned to us, we are overcoming them,' Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters after an unscheduled meeting of the advisory council. 'He (Yunus) is definitely staying," Mahmud said. He said none of the advisers were going anywhere as 'the responsibility entrusted to us is a significant one; we cannot abandon this duty". The chief adviser's decision to stay in office came two days after he told student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders that he was mulling resignation as he felt 'the situation is such that he cannot work", citing difficulties in working amid the failure of political parties to find common ground for change. Yunus reportedly expressed an identical desire to quit in a cabinet meeting earlier on Thursday, where his colleagues persuaded him not to relinquish. As many as 19 advisers, effectively ministers, joined the abruptly called closed-door meeting, which Yunus decided to convene following a scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area in Dhaka. The chief adviser's press wing later issued a 'statement from the advisory council', saying the two-hour long meeting included detailed discussions on 'three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice'. 'The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public,' it said. The statement said despite all obstacles, the interim government continued to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests. 'However, if -- under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy -- the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people,' the council said. It said the interim government upheld the 'public expectations of the July Uprising' but 'if the government's autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps'.
