Interim Leader Yunus Hails 'Birth Of A New Bangladesh' In Farewell Message

By Shakir Husain

NEW DELHI, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- As Bangladesh is poised to welcome a new government set to be formed on Tuesday, the country's interim leader Muhammad Yunus hailed the birth of a new democratic nation in his farewell message.

"I call upon everyone... to build a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh. With this appeal, I bid farewell with great optimism," Yunus said on Monday night.

The 85-year-old economist became head of the interim government after a student-led movement, which began in July, toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's unpopular regime in August 2024, and forced her to flee the country.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won the parliamentary elections held on Feb 12 by a landslide.

Yunus said the election was more than a process of transferring power.

"It is the beginning of a new journey for Bangladesh's democratic system, the birth of a new Bangladesh," he said in his broadcast to the nation.

"The July mass uprising has opened this door for us. If we can keep our dreams, aspirations and energy alive, no one can stop the progress of Bangladesh," he said.

Today the interim government is leaving but "let the practice of democracy, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights that has begun not be halted," said Yunus, whose position as Chief Advisor was equivalent to a prime minister.

Yunus also called for the elimination of corruption from Bangladesh.

"That culture held us back, undermined our credibility. The new Bangladesh must move away from that path. We must be committed to following the rules, keeping promises, maintaining standards, making every level of the state corruption-free, and ensuring transparency and accountability," he said.

He paid tribute to those who took part in the mass movement more than 18 months ago, saying their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

Hasina and her Awami League were accused of widespread corruption, abuse of power, and suppression of their political opponents.

The former residence of the fugitive former prime minister, who now lives in India, has become the National July Memorial Museum to preserve the memories of trauma and violent events of the uprising.

About 1,400 people lost their lives, and thousands were injured during the weeks of protests and a crackdown by the Awami League administration.

Along with electing parliament members last Thursday, Bangladeshis also voted "yes" to approve the "July Charter" referendum, a set of constitutional reforms that propose limits on prime ministerial terms, the creation of a 100-member upper house of parliament, as well as boost presidential and judicial authority.

The BNP, led by 60-year-old Tarique Rahman, who is the son of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman, won 209 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad national parliament.

The Jamaat-e-Islami led by political veteran Shafiqur Rahman, emerged as the second strongest party after winning 68 seats, while the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by 27-year-old Nahid Islam, has six seats.

-- BERNAMA