Interim government prioritizes health and education over ‘great infrastructure’

Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus today called on the international community to continue and deepen cooperation with Bangladesh to meet citizens’ aspirations for democracy, rule of law, equality and prosperity.

In his speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist emphasized that Bangladesh would become a “fair and inclusive democratic society.”

Professor Yunus, who took power after the previous Awami League government collapsed in the face of a massive student-led uprising, said that after assuming office, the caretaker government initiated reforms in some priority sectors to restore citizens’ confidence and to ensure that the “tragic past” was never it was not repeated in the future Bangladesh.

He said that when the new government took office, he discovered to his utter shock and dismay how endemic corruption in a “functioning democracy” had turned into a farce.

It uncovered “how key institutions were ruthlessly politicized, how public treasuries were reduced to rubble, how oligarchs took over businesses, how a ‘chosen few’ concentrated wealth in their hands and hoarded and laundered wealth from Bangladesh,” he added.

“On the whole, justice, ethics and morality, at almost every level, have reached an all-time low.”

He mentioned that regarding reform activities, the interim government had established independent commissions to reform the electoral system, constitution, justice system, civil administration and law and order sectors.

He added that several more commissions are planned to reform other sectors, including the press and media.

He said that to create a favorable environment for business, the government had carried out extensive reforms in the banking and financial sectors, reaffirming that it would not allow any interests of foreign enterprises to be harmed.

“Beyond rhetoric and numbers, our goal is to establish effective safeguard mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of these reforms and create favorable conditions for free, fair and participatory elections,” he added.

Professor Yunus said the government is committed to promoting and protecting fundamental rights – that people can express themselves freely, assemble without fear or inhibition, vote for whomever they want, uphold the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press, including in the cyber domain.

He said the government is prioritizing allocation of funds to the education and health sectors over impressive infrastructure development to ensure that a farmer’s or worker’s child can achieve the best in society.

It also aims to ensure good governance in all sectors, he added.

“It is also a key priority for us to hold all people in public positions and institutions accountable for their decisions and actions,” he further added.

Professor Yunus said Bangladesh is open to cultivating friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect, upholding dignity, pride and common interests.

“I want to assure that our government will respect all international, regional and bilateral instruments to which Bangladesh is a party,” he said, adding that Bangladesh will remain an active supporter of multilateralism, with the UN at its heart.