Dhaka, Bangladesh Global: Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus told AFP on Wednesday that reforms are needed before his country can elect a government following the ouster of autocratic former ruler Sheikh Hasina.
The speed of reforms “will decide how quick the election will be,” the Nobel Peace Prize winner and micro-finance pioneer said in an interview on the sidelines of the COP29 climate talks in Baku.
But he insisted that he would steer the country towards a democratic vote.
“That’s a promise that we made, that as soon as we are ready, we’ll have the elections, and the elected people can take over, run the country,” he said.
He said the country needed to quickly agree on possible constitutional reforms, as well as the shape of the government, parliament and election rules.
The country has struggled with instability since the ouster of Hasina, whose rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents.
“Any government would be concerned about stability. We are also,” he said.
“We are hoping that we can sort it out and have a peaceful law and order,” he added.
“It’s only three months after the revolution.”
The country of some 170 million people is struggling financially and, earlier this month, Indian firm Adani slashed cross-border electricity supply by half due to some $850 million in unpaid bills.
Bangladesh Global/JS
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