Help Bangladesh in its quest for democracy

Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus urged the international community to engage with a new Bangladesh that aims to ensure freedom and democracy for all.

The power of ordinary Bangladeshi citizens, especially the youth, has given the nation a chance to change the system and end discrimination, said Professor Yunus, speaking at the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday.

“I therefore call on the international community to continue and deepen cooperation with Bangladesh to meet our people’s aspirations for democracy, rule of law, equality and prosperity, so that we can emerge as a fair and inclusive democratic society,” he added. he said.

The event, chaired by the President of the UN General Assembly, Filemon Yang, was attended by heads of state, government or their representatives from 193 UN member countries.

For the first time, Professor Yunus as a head of state participates in an international event, meeting with dozens of world leaders such as US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UN Secretary General Anthony Guterres, heads of the World Bank, IMF, UNHCR, ILO, European Union .

“This collective resolve should define Bangladesh in the future and position our nation as a responsive and responsible state in the comity of nations,” he said in his speech delivered in Bengali.

Professor Yunus said the people who overthrew the autocratic regime in Bangladesh through the movement have been long forgotten in politics and development. They dreamed of a fair, inclusive and functioning democracy.

Over eight hundred people were murdered during the movement.

“Bangladesh was born out of its people’s deep faith in liberalism, pluralism and secularism. Decades later, our Generation Z challenges us to revisit and reimagine the values ​​our nation stood for in 1971. Just like what our people did in 1952 to defend our mother tongue, Bengali.”

The interim government found widespread corruption, ruthless politicization of institutions, oligarchs and the siphoning of wealth from Bangladesh. A key priority of the interim government is to hold those in public office and in institutions accountable.

It prioritizes funding for education and health care over impressive infrastructure development.

Ensuring good governance and promoting and protecting fundamental rights will also be a priority.

The government aims to establish effective mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of the reforms it introduces and to create an enabling environment for free, fair and participatory elections.

WE WANT CLIMATE JUSTICE

Professor Yunus said small farmers and artisans face huge risks in Bangladesh.

“As I say this, over five million people have witnessed the most devastating flood in eastern Bangladesh in living memory.

“I am therefore calling for significant resources to be devoted to climate change adaptation in climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. Operationalizing loss and damage funds through the use of innovative solutions and additional financing is crucial.”

Prof. Yunus called for access to technology and capacity building, particularly in agriculture, water and public health, while highlighting a shared vision of zero poverty, zero unemployment and net zero carbon emissions that the world can collectively realize.

THE ROHINGYA CRISIS IS A GROWING RISK

Bangladesh has accepted over 1.2 million Rohingya on humanitarian grounds, at significant social, economic and environmental costs.

The protracted crisis in Myanmar poses growing risks with national and regional security implications for Bangladesh.

He said Bangladesh needs the continued support of the international community in carrying out humanitarian operations and sustainable repatriation.

“It is equally important to ensure justice for the grave human rights violations committed against the Rohingya through ongoing accountability processes before the ICJ and ICC.”