Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus declared that Bangladesh will experience a fundamental transformation, and misgovernance will not return if the “Yes” vote triumphs in the February 12 referendum. He emphasized that a successful ‘Yes’ vote would pave the way for a more positive future for the nation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Professor Yunus addressed senior secretaries and secretaries at his Tejgaon office, with the meeting presided over by the Cabinet Secretary. He later briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy through Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, where he expressed strong confidence in the upcoming national election, predicting it to be free, fair, peaceful, and festive.
Reflecting on past elections, Professor Yunus criticized them as “mock exercises” and “fake elections,” contrasting them with the forthcoming election, which he assured would be genuine and peaceful. He stated that the election, along with the referendum, would introduce unprecedented changes to Bangladesh’s political structure.
A significant development highlighted by Professor Yunus is the formal inclusion of expatriate Bangladeshis in the political process, recognizing their historical contributions to political movements and enabling them to play a more substantial role in national affairs. He also advocated for the extensive use of technology in the election, mentioning the development of a mobile app for guiding voters and monitoring security at nearly 43,000 polling centers.
The Chief Adviser introduced the “Election Bondhu” initiative, and discussed the deployment of body-worn cameras to 25,700 law enforcement personnel and the installation of CCTV cameras at polling centers. He expressed optimism that the election would surpass previous ones in quality.
Professor Yunus noted the arrival of international observers as a sign of renewed global confidence in Bangladesh’s democracy. Unlike past elections under the Sheikh Hasina government, which he claimed lacked legitimacy and credible international observers, the current electoral process is receiving serious attention from the international community.
He reported that the election atmosphere is calm, with peaceful campaigning and responsible conduct by political parties. Large public gatherings are occurring without violence or disorder.
The Chief Adviser acknowledged the secretaries’ contributions over the past 18 months, particularly in advancing work on approximately 130 ordinances. He credited their support and efficiency as crucial to the government’s progress.
Looking ahead, Professor Yunus expressed optimism that Bangladesh would continue to progress and attract global investors, highlighting the country’s young population as a valuable resource. He pointed to the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as a model for future free trade and preferential trade agreements, which he believes will open new economic opportunities and expand markets for Bangladeshi products.
The briefing concluded with Professor Yunus posing for photographs with senior secretaries and secretaries of the government.