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Chief Adviser of the Interim Government Dr Muhammad Yunus has said his government will hold a free, fair participatory election as soon as it can complete its mandate to carry out vital reforms in the election commission, judiciary, civil administration, security forces, and media.
“We will also make sincere efforts to promote national reconciliation,” Dr Yunus said while addressing the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Sunday.
“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 of time, with the unwavering support of our people and patriotic armed forces,” he added.
“The police force has also resumed their operations. The armed forces will continue to serve in aid of civil power as long as the situation warrants. Our government remains pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups.”
Narrating the context of taking over power, he said, “I took over a country which was in many ways a completely mess. In their efforts to stay in power, the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship destroyed every institution of the country. The 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 patronisation. And the state coffer was plundered by abusing power,” Dr Yunus added.