No elections in Bangladesh? Yunus puts 'vital reforms' before participatory poll promise

Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Sunday (August 18) did not provide any timeline for the promised "free and fair elections" in the South Asian nation and instead emphasised that he has the "mandate" of carrying out "vital reforms" in the country.

The Nobel laureate accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of destroying every institution of the country in her efforts to stay in power. He repeated thepromise of holding afree, fair, and participatory election but did not give any timeline for the same.

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Deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned to power in January elections widely denounced by the Opposition for its alleged lack of participatory nature alongside purported high-handedness of government functionaries from Hasina's Awami League party.

Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India on August 5 following a massive protest by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs.

After Hasina's ouster, 84-year-old Yunus took oath as the Chief Adviser of the interim government on August 8.

The chief adviser said elections were rigged blatantly and 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,” Yunus said, adding that they will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation.

"In their efforts to stay in power, Sheikh Hasina's dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country. The judiciary was broken. Democratic rights were suppressed through a brutal decade-and-a-half long crackdown," United News of Bangladesh quoted Yunus as saying through his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Yunus also briefed diplomats stationed in Dhaka for the first time since the interim government's inception.

Yunus said he took over a country that was in many ways a complete mess. Headded that the 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," Yunus said.

He sought the international community’s support to rebuild Bangladesh.

On the Rohingya issue, he said the interim 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," Yunus said.

(With inputs from agencies)