Staff Correspondent

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today sought support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for carrying out vital reforms in wide-ranging areas such as judiciary, police, Election Commission, tax administration and land registration.

The chief adviser said the interim government is committed to bringing vital reforms to Bangladesh’s key institutions, aiming to hold a free, fair and transparent election and help people truly enjoy the fruits of the student-led revolution.

He made the comments when the UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller paid a courtesy call on him at the State Guest House Jamuna here.

During the meeting, Prof Yunus said Bangladesh immediately needs far-reaching digitalisation efforts — including designing simple solutions — in tax and land administration so that a citizen can pay taxes or register their land and sell property without any hassles.

“Why do we have to go to the tax office? No one has to go to the tax office to file a tax return,” the chief adviser’s press wing quoted him as saying.

He said Bangladesh needs vital reforms “to build a modern police force” and also ensure a rule of law in the country.

“We are committed to holding a free, fair and transparent election,” he said.

“It is a good occasion to challenge everything. These are opportunities. We have to find out how to reorganise the systems,” Prof Yunus said, referring to the student-people revolution.

Offering the UN agency’s full support for the wide-ranging reforms, the UNDP Resident Representative said the UNDP has a long collaboration in Bangladesh but much of their funding was slowed down by bureaucratic processes.

UNDP officials attending the meeting said the agency was also ready to support Bangladesh’s export diversification efforts, green transition, help in easing businesses and fighting against climate change.

They said they would also like to reassess the country’s investment climate, especially detecting the key constraints.