Fair polls after far-reaching reforms

Free, fair and participatory polls will be held on completion of the interim government's mandate to conduct vital reforms in election commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces and the media, says Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
The head of interim government of Bangladesh laid out the to-do chart while briefing foreign diplomats Sunday on the recent student-people uprising, urging them to keep full confidence in his ruling team's ability to steer the nation towards prosperity through far-reaching economic and other necessary reforms.
Top priority of the interim government for now is bringing law-and-order situation under control, as normal orders took a knock during the upheavals and the past government's last-ditch bid to quell that, he told the diplomatic corps in Dhaka.
"We'll be close to normalcy within a short period of time, with the unwavering support of our people and patriotic armed forces." he added.
"We'll also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation," Prof Dr Yunus told the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka.
"I must succeed. We have no other option," said the Nobel laureate, who came to the country's helm just a week ago after the fall of the over-15-year-long regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the face of massive protests.
Dwelling on the current situation the Chief Adviser said the police force also resumed their operation and armed forces would continue to serve in aid to civil power as long as the situation warrants.
He reaffirmed that this government remained pledge-bound to ensure safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups.
The microcredit pioneer asserted that the interim government would 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.
Making an appeal to the country's trade and investment partners for maintaining their trust in Bangladesh for economic prosperity, he said this government won't tolerate any attempt to disrupt the global clothing-supply chains in which "we are a key player".
Turning to foreign-policy focus in the changed context, the Chief Adviser said his government would 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."
The interim government chief pledged that Bangladesh shall continue to remain an active proponent of multilateralism, with the UN at the core. "We look forward to maintaining and enhancing Bangladesh's contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations."
He also made it clear that his government would 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" the CA told the diplomats.
"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."
About investigation into the killings that took place during the mass upsurge, the chief adviser said, "We have also made it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all the killings and violence committed during the recent mass uprising."
He said he had spoken to the UN human-rights chief, Volker Turk, 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."
He said the government would provide whatever support the UN investigators need.
About their mandate Prof Yunus said, "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 international community."
Narrating the context of their takeover, he said, "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. 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 patronage. And the state coffer was plundered by abusing power."
Terming the recent mass upsurge 'a Second Revolution', the Chief Adviser said, "Hundreds of thousands of our valiant students and people rose up 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."
He goes on telling the foreign mission chiefs that hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured.
"Many hundreds of students have already lost or could lose their eyesight after rubber bullets were shot at their eyes," he said, paying his deep respects 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 environment-friendly nation where human rights of every citizen are fully protected," the Nobel laureate for peace observed.
Dr Yunus points out that 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".
He adds: "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."
He stressed creating 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," said Dr Yunus.
The briefing session over, the Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Shafiqul Alam, told journalists that over 50 diplomats from foreign missions and international agencies attended the meeting.
He also said there was no question-answer session as the programme aimed at briefing the diplomats about the current situation and exchange of greetings.

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