We’re in war-like situation: Yunus

"There have been relentless efforts to destabilise the situation. We must protect ourselves from this."

— Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said the country had been in a state of war since imposing the ban on the activities of the Awami League.

"A war-like situation emerged both inside and outside the country, preventing us from moving forward, causing everything to collapse, and pushing us back into subservience," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Prof Yunus as saying last night.

The CA said this at meetings with political parties yesterday, according to Shafiqul.

Prof Yunus met 20 leaders of different political parties and organisations in two separate sessions at state guest house Jamuna.

The talks follow reports that Prof Yunus on Thursday expressed frustrations over some recent developments and expressed his desire to step down. BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party leaders met separately with Yunus on Saturday.

The CA observed that the 2024 mass uprising gave the country a great opportunity to turn around, Shafiqul said.

"Since the Awami League's activities were banned [on May 12], there have been relentless efforts to destabilise the situation. We must protect ourselves from this," Yunus said.

He urged everyone to be confident that he would not do anything that may harm the country.

"I felt confident as we all sat together. If I fail to hold a fair election, I will feel guilty."

Shafiqul said party leaders reaffirmed their support to the interim government, its reform initiatives, approach to the trials of July killings, and efforts to hold a national election.

Photo: PID

The CA once again stated that he would hold the election between this December and June next year. The election will be held before June 30 and "everyone expressed their satisfaction" on the matter, Shafiqul said.

The political parties that met the CA demanded a clear roadmap to reforms, the election and trial for the July atrocities.

The leaders also said the interim government should hold trials of Awami League leaders' role in mass killings during the July uprising.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said the reform process should engage people and the interim government might not have enough time to implement the reform proposals.

"The election can take place after making the necessary reforms and the interim government can leave fundamental issues to the people. Unnecessary delays can further worsen the already unstable situation."

There are conspiracies at home and abroad to destroy the national unity seen during the July uprising.

Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said "The chief adviser has said that due to Indian hegemony, the country is facing a major crisis. Therefore, he believes that the entire nation needs to be united.

"We will remain united leaving behind differences of opinion. The nation doesn't want Yunus to resign," Manna said after the meeting.

Saiful Haque, secretary of the Biplobi Workers Party, said, "This government's main mandate is to make reforms, hold the trials for the July killings and the election. The government should give clear-cut roadmaps for these tasks."

He pointed out that there was a lack of coordination among the advisers.

The decision to establish a humanitarian corridor [to provide aid to the people in Rakhine State] and hand over the operations of the Chattogram port to a foreign party should not be made by the interim government without discussions and consultations with political parties, he said.

"Prof Yunus did not make any straight comment regarding the humanitarian corridor and Chattogram port," he said.

Mojibur Rahman Monju, chairman of Amar Bangladesh Party, also emphasised the need for roadmap for reforms, trials and elections.

There is no alternative to unity among the July uprising forces, Monju added.

Rashtro Songskar Andolon Chief Coordinator Hasnat Quaiyum said the trial, reforms and elections should not be pitted against each other.

The election should be held without further delay, strictly following the announced roadmap, Hasnat said.

Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said the controversy surrounding the advisers is undesirable.

If the two advisers of the Students Against Discrimination have political plans for the future, then a question of their resignation arises.

A specific roadmap for the election will help the political parties prepare for that.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer Rezaul Karim said, "If necessary reforms are not implemented, the nation's hope for a fair election will be jeopardised."

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque urged the government to involve all political parties before making decisions on sensitive international matters.

Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Sajidur Rahman said that they informed CA that no law can be enacted contradicting the Quran and Sunnah.