Interim Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that holding a free, fair, and inclusive national election as soon as possible is the key priority of the interim government. Speaking at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Friday, April 4, Dr. Yunus emphasized that the upcoming election will be held in line with the constitution and the expectations of the people.

Reflecting on recent history, Dr. Yunus remarked that over the past 15 years, the people of Bangladesh, especially the youth, have witnessed the steady erosion of their rights. He pointed out that state institutions have collapsed, and civil liberties were severely undermined. He noted that the country ended authoritarian rule at the cost of nearly two thousand young lives and that Bangladesh now stands awakened for a fresh start.

Dr. Yunus reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to establishing a stable and transparent economic foundation, focusing on good governance, anti-corruption efforts, and restoring discipline in the administration. He highlighted that six commissions have already been formed covering judiciary reform, electoral reform, public administration, police reform, anti-corruption, and constitutional matters. A National Consensus Commission, chaired by Dr. Yunus himself, has also been created to examine the recommendations of these bodies.

He further stated that while some view Bangladesh’s population as a challenge, the interim government sees it as an asset. Dr. Yunus expressed Bangladesh’s intention to fully utilize its human resources and host the BIMSTEC Secretariat to foster regional cooperation.

Addressing regional concerns, Dr. Yunus warned that without a sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis, the entire region could face instability. He suggested that BIMSTEC could take stronger action on the issue, including the creation of a humanitarian corridor in Rakhine State to prevent hunger and displacement.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Yunus shared that Bangladesh looks forward to welcoming all BIMSTEC member states to Dhaka during its two-year chairmanship of the organization.