The Bangladesh interim government chief adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has laid emphasis on exploring economics opportunities through regional cooperation but noted the problems that Bangladesh faces with India right now because they ‘did not like’ what the students have done in Bangladesh.
‘In the process, all of us benefit (regional economy) from that. So I said, we think about the regional economy. This is what we should be doing. We have problems with India right now because they didn't like what the students have done,’ he said during a conversation in New York.
Asia Society and the Asia Society Policy Institute hosted the Chief Adviser for an address on Wednesday. It was moderated by Kyung-wha Kang, president and chief executive officer of Asia Society.
Prof Yunus said they (India) are hosting ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina Hasina who created all these problems and killed the young people.
‘And that creates a lot of tension between India and Bangladesh. Also lots of fake news are coming from the other side. This is a very bad thing,’ Prof Yunus said.
Prof Yunus flagged the fake news of the Islamist movement saying these are the Talibans and they have been trained. ‘They even said, I'm a Taliban too. I don't have the beard. I just left it home,’ he joked.
Talking about the regional economy, Prof Yunus said, ‘You have to go through Bangladesh. You can invest in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is going to invest in your territory. That's what the whole idea of the SAARC.’
In a separate meeting, the chief adviser said trials of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her cronies are a top priority of his government.
During a meeting with the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, on the sidelines of the UNGA on Wednesday (New York time), Prof Yunus stressed that the trials were being conducted in accordance with international legal standards.
‘Despite facing trial, she continues to make incendiary and destabilising remarks,’ Prof Yunus said, adding that the interim government has sought her extradition to face justice.
The president of Finland met with chief adviser Prof Yunus on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh, United Nations reform, the Rohingya crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh's bid to join ASEAN, the trials of Sheikh Hasina and her associates, and the country's efforts to access hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan.
Prof Yunus expressed gratitude to the international community for its continued support of the interim government since it assumed office in August last year.
‘International support for our government over the past 14 months has been overwhelming,’ he said.
He reaffirmed the interim government's commitment to holding free, fair, and credible elections in February, allowing the country's 126 million voters to cast their ballots peacefully and in a festive atmosphere.
‘Our people have been deprived of a free and fair election for the past 15 years. Now, they are eagerly looking forward to February,’ the chief adviser added.
Prof Yunus told President Stubb that major political and institutional reforms were underway in Bangladesh.
He noted that political parties are expected to sign the July Charter, a framework for deeper political reform.
