The advisory council at a meeting on Saturday resolved that a broader national unity was essential to ensure stability, justice, reform, organising free and fair elections, and preventing permanently a return of authoritarianism in the country.
The unscheduled meeting of the council of advisers with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair at the Planning聽 Commission in the city鈥檚 Sher-e-Bangla Nagar focused on the interim government鈥檚 three primary responsibilities: elections, reforms, and justice, according to a statement of the advisory council shared by the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing.
The advisory council meeting that lasted for about two hours was held shortly after a meeting of the executive committee of the National Economic Council.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud affirmed that Professor Muhammad Yunus would remain as the chief adviser to the interim government, which was committed to completing its assigned responsibilities.
鈥楾he chief adviser is staying with us. He has not said he will resign. Other advisers are also staying. We have been given responsibilities and we are here to carry them out,鈥� he said.
The advisory council met on Saturday after various rumours were in the air as chief adviser Professor Yunus at the Thursday meeting of the council reportedly expressed his frustration and intention to resign under existing political circumstances.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has persistently been pressing for an election road map without further delay while demanding the resignation of local government, rural development and co-operative affairs adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and information and broadcasting affairs adviser Md Mahfuj Alam for their alleged involvement in the newly floated National Citizen Party.
According to the statement, the advisory council meeting discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and extra-jurisdictional statements, and disruptive programmes had continuously been obstructing the normal functioning environment for the government, while creating confusion and suspicion among the public.
鈥極n this matter, the interim government will listen to the views of political parties and clarify its own position,鈥� the statement said.
The statement went on to say that despite all obstacles, the interim government continued to carry out its responsibilities, putting national interests above group interests.
鈥楬owever, if 鈥� under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy 鈥� the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people,鈥� it said.
The statement further noted that the interim government represented the popular expectations that emerged from the July Uprising.
鈥楤ut if the government鈥檚 autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps,鈥� it said.