Interim govt's tenure not yet fixed, intention is to hold polls quickly

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that the tenure of the interim government will be less than four years, and their intention is to hold the election as quickly as possible.
"I didn't say that I will be (in power) for four years. This is the maximum term. But that's not our intention. Our intention is to get it (hold polls) done as quickly as possible," he said while responding to a question during an interview with Qatar-based media Al Jazeera, reports UNB.
Prof Yunus said the exact timeframe for the interim government's tenure has not been determined yet.
He said the regular government is for five years and the new Constitution may say four years, probably.
"It should be under four years, that's for sure. It may be less," Prof Yunus said.
The chief adviser said it is all about what people and political parties want. "If political parties say forget about it (reform), give the election, we will do it," Prof Yunus said.

Asked if he plans to stand for election, Yunus said, "I am not a politician. I enjoy my role and what I have been doing. In my last stage of my life, I am not going to change that."
In the interview, Dr Yunus acknowledged the challenges ahead.
"Bangladesh is deep in corruption because of the system that we had for the past 15 years -- mismanagement, misgovernance, the destruction of our institutions," he said, adding that rebuilding the system "point by point, sector by sector" will be a "big task".
Highlighting the important reforms before the next national elections, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday pledged that they will hold the desired elections on completion of some necessary reforms.
"I am not sure how much opportunity we will get to implement the reform proposals. But I am giving you a word, if you give us a scope, we will hold your desired elections after completing some necessary reforms. Till then, I request you to be patient," he said in a televised address to the nation in the evening, marking the completion of 100 days of the interim government.
The Election Commission will be formed in a few days, the chief adviser said, adding that all the responsibility of organising the elections will fall on the Election Commission once it is formed.
Mentioning that the question of when the elections will be held is on everyone's mind, Prof Yunus said they want to create an electoral system that will be followed for ages in the country and it will help save the country from any political crisis.
"For this, I am seeking the necessary time from you. Once the decision on electoral reforms is made, you will also get the election roadmap very soon," said the Nobel Laureate who took oath as the chief adviser on August 8.
Prof Yunus has said he does not see any negative thing emerging suddenly because Donald Trump (President-elect) is President of the United States, stressing that he does not have any problem with Trump in a personal way.
"I think foreign policy of the United States is not something that switches back and forth depending on who is the President," he said.
Prof Yunus said he has no problem as far as the Republican Party or Democratic Party is concerned, or even Trump is concerned.
The chief adviser said he had no interaction with President Trump in the past and he has friends in both the parties. Donald Trump will officially become the 47th President of the United States at a ceremony called the inauguration.
Before the US election, Trump condemned the "barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh." "It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America."
Responding to a question by an Al Jazeera journalist on this, Prof Yunus said this is mostly propaganda -- totally baseless propaganda. "It's unfortunate."
He said most of the propaganda originates from the Indian side for whatever reason it may be -- to keep the tensions alive, probably.
"But in reality, it does not exist," said Prof Yunus, adding that violence started during the period of revolution not because they are Hindus or other religions but because mostly they were Awami Leaguers. "Most of the Hindus happened to be Awami Leaguers."
In his televised speech on Sunday evening, the chief adviser said the minorities were subjected to violence in some cases but it was 'completely exaggerated'.
"When we took over the charge, Bangladesh was a completely unguarded country. At that time, there was an attempt to spread unnecessary panic among religious minorities," he said.
The chief adviser said the main reason for the few incidents of violence that occurred was political.