Diplomatic Correspondent

Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dictatorship has destroyed every institution of the country in the effort to stay in power.

The judiciary has been broken, he said while briefing diplomats stationed in Dhaka.

The Chief Adviser said he has taken up the responsibility at the request of the students. He paid deep respect to those who made supreme sacrifices in the recent student movement.

The briefing began at the Inter-Continental Hotel at around 1 pm.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam will brief the media soon.

This was the first briefing by the Chief Adviser to diplomats stationed in Dhaka since the interim government’s inception.

The full text of the Chief Adviser’s Speech is given below:

Excellencies, Hon’ble Advisers of the Government, Distinguished Guests,

Assalamualaikum and good morning.

I thank you all for your kind presence today. It’s a pleasure to be among the friends of Bangladesh. It’s two weeks since Bangladesh witnessed a Second Revolution. Hundreds of thousands of our valiant students and people rose against the brutal dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina. She fled the country — but only after the security forces and her party’s student wing committed the country’s worst civilian massacre since the country’s independence.

Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured. Many hundreds of students have already lost or could lose their eyesight after rubber bullets were shot at their eyes. I pay my deep respect and homage to all those valiant students and innocent people who made the supreme sacrifice. Students of no other countries in our recent memory had to pay so much a price for expressing their democratic aspirations, dreaming a discrimination-free, equitable and environmental-friendly nation where the human rights of every citizen are fully protected.

I took over a country which was in many ways a complete mess. In their efforts to stay in power, the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country. The judiciary was broken. Democratic rights were suppressed through a brutal decade-and-a-half-long crackdown. Elections were rigged blatantly. Generations of young people grew up without exercising their voting rights. Banks were robbed with full political patronisation. And the state coffer was plundered by abusing power.

Excellencies,

A new era has begun as the students impressed upon us their dream of a country where people, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic identity, will be able to fulfil their aspirations and enjoy full freedom of expression, with the government upholding democracy, justice and human rights and freedom of speech.

Top priority of the Interim Government would be to bring the law and order situation under control. We will be close to normalcy within a short period, with the unwavering support of our people and patriotic armed forces. The police force has also resumed its operations. The armed forces will continue to serve in aid of civil power as long as the situation warrants. Our government remains pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups.

We have also made it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all the killings and violence committed during the recent mass uprising. I have spoken to the UN human rights chief Volker Turk. I welcomed the UN rights office’s move to send a UN-led fact-finding mission. We want an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the massacre and subsequent due judicial processes. We will provide whatever support the UN investigators need. The revolutionary students want us to carry meaningful and deep reforms, which will turn the country into a real and thriving democracy. The task is huge, but doable with the support of all people and the international community.

I must succeed. We don’t have any other option.

We will hold a free, fair participatory election as soon as we can complete our mandate to carry out vital reforms in our election commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and media. We will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation.

We will undertake robust and far-reaching economic reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and sustained growth, with priority attached to good governance and combating corruption and mismanagement. We will uphold and promote all our international legal obligations, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Our government will adhere to all international, regional and bilateral instruments it is a party to.

Bangladesh shall continue to remain an active proponent of multilateralism, with UN at the core. We look forward to maintaining and enhancing Bangladesh’s contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations. Our government will continue to support the million plus Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh. We need sustained efforts of the international community for Rohingya humanitarian operations and their eventual repatriation to their homeland, Myanmar, with safety, dignity and full rights.

I am encouraged by the words of support by our international friends and partners. Our government will nurture friendly relations with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding and shared interests. We call upon our trade and investment partners to maintain their trust in Bangladesh for economic prosperity. For our part, we won’t tolerate any attempt to disrupt the global clothing supply chain in which we are a key player.

Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of a new beginning. Our valiant students and people deserve a lasting transformation of our nation. It is a difficult journey and we need your help along the way. We need to fulfil their aspirations. The sooner the better. We have to create opportunities to build a poverty-free and prosperous new Bangladesh. We believe all our friends and partners in the international community will stand by our government and people as we chart a new democratic future.”