Bangladesh interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday sought support from the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies to hold the upcoming national elections in a peaceful and festive manner in the first half of February.
‘So, now is the time for the election. We are looking forward to it and we announce the date for the polls in the first half of February. Again we need the support from our armed forces, from our police, law enforcing agencies, all types,’ he said.Â
Muhammad Yunus said, ‘Because it is a big undertaking coming from an uprising, moving to an election, which is going to be peaceful, a kind of celebration, need for happiness and being together, still expressing their own desires and aspirations.’
Yunus addressed the Defence Services Command and Staff College Course-2025 certificate distribution ceremony at a function at the DSCSC Complex at Mirpur cantonment in Dhaka.
The chief adviser congratulated all the graduating officers and advised them to utilise the knowledge, wisdom and determination gained from the course for the progress of the nation.
‘It is an immense pleasure to be present at the graduation ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College Course-2025. The heartiest congratulations to all the graduating officers,’ he said.
Hailing the DSCSC as a military institution, Yunus said, ‘I feel particularly proud coming here to this institute. I am proud of this institution. This institution is one of the best in the country, but also internationally.’Â
Addressing the graduates, he said, ‘While you are in Bangladesh, I am sure you have familiarised yourself with the country. While you are going through your preparations, your studies for the coursework that you are doing, which is a routine thing, anywhere you go, will go through that.’
‘But you are lucky to be here in Bangladesh. At a time when Bangladesh is going through a tremendous transition and transformation, which we repeatedly mentioned that we are moving to a new Bangladesh,’ he mentioned.
Speaking about the mass uprising in the past year, which ended the past regime, he said that new hopes and aspirations had been created among the country’s people. ‘These are not just Bangladeshi aspirations. This is a global aspiration.’
He said that both foreign and Bangladeshi participants in the course might have absorbed the historical moment they had witnessed during their training, saying, ‘Such an experience is rare even in Bangladesh.’
About the role of armed forces during the 2024 uprising, the chief adviser said that the armed forces played the role they were supposed to play by standing firmly with the people.
‘Bangladesh is a lucky country. All the armed forces… under the leadership of their leaders stay committed to the people,’ he added.
Noting that this unity ensured a swift conclusion of the crisis and helped stabilise the nation, Yunus said, ‘And that is why, we could move forward with the implementation of all the aspirations and hopes of the nation. Because the armed forces stood behind them, the people.’
About the interim government’s commitment to state reforming, he said that returning to the past would have rendered all sacrifices meaningless.
‘Unless we build the country of a dream. That was the process of reform. So, we undertook the big project of reform. Know what to do. Reform is one thing but to know what exactly it has to be done so that you do not make mistakes again,’ Yunus said.
About the trial of the July uprising, he said, ‘Then the question of trial. Those who have done this terrible thing to us must be brought to justice.’
Addressing the global participants in the DSCSC course, Yunus said, ‘Your participation is a glowing reflection of our strong global defence relations. I hope that your association with the staff college and with Bangladesh will continue in the years to come.’
According to ISPR, 311 trainees completed the course this year. Among them were 170 officers from the Bangladesh Army, 45 from the Bangladesh Navy, 36 from the Bangladesh Air Force, and three from the Bangladesh Police.
In addition, 58 officers from China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey and Uganda also took part in the DSCSC graduation course.
Notably, 14 female officers, including one from the Bangladesh Police, completed the course this year, reflecting DSCSC’s commitment to women’s inclusion and empowerment.
The DSCSC is an internationally acclaimed institution dedicated to preparing mid-level officers for higher responsibilities and leadership roles.
Since its establishment, 6,814 officers have been trained at the DSCSC, including 5,329 officers from the Bangladesh armed forces, 20 officers from Bangladesh Police, and 1,465 officers from 45 friendly foreign countries.
