Dhaka: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed on Tuesday his government’s unwavering commitment to conducting the general election and referendum on February 12, dismissing any speculation to the contrary. He stated that the elections would proceed as planned, ensuring they were free, fair, and peaceful, held in a festive atmosphere.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser addressed these concerns during a meeting with two former senior United States diplomats, Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, who served during the Donald Trump administration. The meeting took place at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Tuesday night. Prof Yunus emphasized that despite a flood of fake news and deliberate misinformation, the interim government remained steadfast in its plan to hold the elections on the scheduled date and transfer power to an elected government once results are announced.
Prof Yunus assured that his interim government would maintain complete neutrality during the elections, ensuring an unbiased administration and a level playing field for all political parties. The visiting diplomats, Albert Gombis, a former Acting Under Secretary of State, and Morse Tan, a former Ambassador-at-Large, are in Bangladesh ahead of the critical elections to discuss a range of issues with the Chief Adviser.
The discussions covered topics such as the forthcoming elections, the July Revolution, the rise of young protesters, the July Charter and the referendum, fake news targeting the vote, the Rohingya crisis, and the prospects for truth and reconciliation in a post-July Bangladesh. Prof Yunus highlighted the interim government’s campaign for ‘Yes’ votes in the referendum, emphasizing that the July Charter would pave the way for democratic governance and eradicate future autocracy.
Prof Yunus also addressed the spread of fake news by supporters of the former autocratic regime, noting that the public was becoming increasingly adept at identifying AI-generated misinformation videos. Former Under Secretary Gombis echoed these sentiments, identifying fake news as a significant threat to democracy worldwide and advocating for increased efforts to combat this issue.
The diplomats commended the Chief Adviser for his leadership over the past eighteen months and inquired about the possibility of a truth and reconciliation initiative similar to post-apartheid South Africa. In response, Prof Yunus, a friend of the late Nelson Mandela, stated that such a move was currently unfeasible in Bangladesh due to the former regime’s ongoing denial of its crimes.
Prof Yunus articulated that truth and reconciliation require acknowledgment, repentance, and the creation of an appropriate atmosphere, none of which are currently present. He criticized the former regime’s denial, noting their claims that young people killed during the July uprising were victims of terrorism, despite substantial evidence of their crimes.
SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.