Bangladesh’s Yunus seeks ‘good relations’ with India, stresses on ‘fairness, equality’

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus announced on Wednesday that the country is committed to fostering strong relationships with India and its neighbouring nations, but stressed that these ties must be rooted in “fairness and equality.”

In a televised speech, Yunus mentioned that after his swearing-in as head of the interim administration, several foreign leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, called to congratulate him.

“We aim for good relations with India and other neighbouring nations, but these relations must be grounded in fairness and equality,” Yunus stated.

The 84-year-old Nobel laureate assumed office on August 8, following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, after widespread protests against her government.

Yunus highlighted that Bangladesh has already initiated high-level bilateral discussions with India to address issues like flooding. He also expressed a desire to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to strengthen regional ties.

“We want the world to recognise Bangladesh as a respected democracy,” Yunus said.

He also revealed that the interim government is forming six commissions to reform key sectors, including the electoral system, police administration, judiciary, anti-corruption measures, public administration, and the constitution. The commissions are set to begin their work on October 1 and aim to complete their tasks within three months.

“Based on their reports, we will organise broad-based consultative meetings with major political parties, civil society, and other stakeholders to finalise the reform framework,” Yunus said.

He emphasised the importance of the reforms in “strengthening and inspiring the nation,” adding that the initiative aims to “create a structure that enables the untapped talents within us to be expressed without obstacles.”

Yunus reported positive feedback from political parties, editors, and business leaders, who have expressed support for the reform goals. He acknowledged the challenges faced in the first month but remains optimistic about accelerating progress if the law and order situation stabilises. “Our work is very difficult, but as a nation, we cannot afford to fail this time,” Yunus stated.

Emphasising the need for equality, Yunus said, “Our goal is to ensure equal rights for all. We have much work ahead and we want to move forward together. Our aim is to create a system that unleashes the potential of our people, particularly the younger generation, with the full support of the state and society.”

He concluded by acknowledging the public’s impatience but assured that the government is committed to working diligently and effectively. “We will be impatient, but we will work correctly,” he said.

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