Dhaka: Bangladesh interim govt chief adviser Muhammad Yunus has requested people in his county to have patience and allow his govt time to address the challenges instead of insisting on addressing everything right now. “I’ll just say you have to be patient. It is difficult to overcome mountain-like challenges overnight,” he said in a televised speech, his second to the nation since his appointment as chief adviser on Aug 8.
Yunus urged the people to stop trying to force all demands to be met right away, to stop putting individuals at risk by entering institutions, and to cease trying to take the law into their hands by attacking people being taken to the courts. The glory and potential to build a new Bangladesh will fade because of these things, Yunus said.
He said they have started various reforms and through discussion they can get a clear direction.“But the final decision is a political decision. Political decisions will come from political discussions,” he said. “I assure you that we will not raise any question of extension of time from our side. We ask for your prayers,” he said.
Yunus emphasised the importance of both domestic and regional cooperation to tackle such crises in the future. “We are one family. We have one goal,” he said, adding, “We are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of our youth, and we are ready to take on this challenge.” He also revealed plans to establish a “July Mass Killing Memorial Foundation”.
BNP asks India to extradite Hasina
Bangladesh's main opposition party BNP urged India to extradite deposed PM Sheikh Hasinato face trial in murder and other cases registered against her since she took flight on Aug 5 in the face of a student-led uprising.
“It is our call to you that you should hand her over to the govt of Bangladesh in a legal way. The people of this country have given the decision for her trial. Let her face that trial,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in Dhaka.
Bangladesh and India have extradition treaty based on which they are required to hand over people against whom proceedings have been initiated in courts for any “extraditable crime,” he said.
BNP chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia said the murder and extortion cases filed against Hasina were in the “extraditable” category.
Worried over security, Indian envoy
India has reiterated its commitment to working with Bangladesh to fulfil “shared aspirations” of the peoples of India and Bangladesh for “peace, security and development” but expressed concerns regarding the safety and security of Indian establishments and minorities in Bangladesh, including its high commission in Dhaka.
Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma flagged these concerns during his introductory meeting with Yunus. The issue of safety of minorities also came up during the meeting, with Yunus reassuring the Indian high commissioner that the interim administration was committed to protecting all its citizens. “Bangladesh is a big family and they are all brothers and sisters and remain together,” said the chief adviser.@ AV
