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Engage with new BD to realise democracy, prosperity, Yunus to world leaders at UNGA

Chief Adviser speaks in Bengali at UN

Published : Saturday, 28 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 322
Shahnaj Begum from UN Headquarters, New York
Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus has called on the international community to continue and deepen engagements with Bangladesh in meeting Bangladesh people's quest for democracy, rule of law, equality, prosperity, so the country can emerge as a just and inclusive democratic society.

Dr Yunus's landmark speech at the79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (Sept 27) attracted the attention of the world leaders that highlighted the context of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the revolutionary changes brought in Bangladesh through the movement.

He delivered his speech in Bangla, which focuses on how he took the responsibility of his interim government, 
its reform agendas to rebuild the state structure in the changing scenario, the Rohingya crisis, climate change, inclusive economic development and other global and regional issues too.

"We were moved by the wisdom, courage and conviction our youth showed even braving bullets, bare chest.

Young girls were fiercely vocal against the illegitimate State power. School-going teenagers laid down their lives.

Hundreds lost their eyes, forever.

Mothers, day labourers and scores of people across cities lent their shoulders, for "their children".

Defying sweat, rain and fear of death, they defeated all the evil designs and machinations of the few who manipulated the State machinery against truth and just aspirations of people for years.

The people's movement left an estimated over eight hundred martyrs in the hands of the autocratic regime.

Bangladesh was born because of her people's profound belief in liberalism, pluralism, secularism. Decades later, our 'Generation Z' is making us re-visit and re-imagine the very values that our people Bangladesh stood for back in 1971. As our people also did in 1952, to defend our mother language, Bangla.

We believe the 'monsoon revolution' that the world witnessed in Bangladesh in the span of a few weeks, may inspire many across communities and countries to stand for freedom and justice. 

I would call upon the international community to engage with 'new Bangladesh' anew that aims to realize freedom and democracy, beyond letters, for everyone, he continued.

"I stand in this parliament of nations thanks to an epochal transformation that Bangladesh witnessed this July and August. The 'power of the ordinary people', in particular our youth, presented to our nation an opportunity to overhaul many of our systems and institutions.

The uprising led by the students and youth was initially aimed at ending discrimination. Progressively the movement evolved into a people's movement. 

The world eventually saw how people-at-large stood against autocracy, oppression, discrimination, injustice and corruption, both on the streets and online.

Our people, particularly youth, gained us independence from an autocratic and undemocratic regime with their exceptional resolve and capability. 

That collective resolve should define Bangladesh of the future and place our nation as a responsive and responsible State in the comity of nations," he said.

The Nobel winner has said our youth and people together entrusted me and my colleagues in the Council of Advisers with enormous responsibilities to re-construct a decaying State apparatus.

As we took to the office, to our utter shock and dismay, we discovered how endemic corruption a 'functioning democracy' was brought to farce, how key institutions were ruthlessly politicised, how public coffers were reduced to rubble, how oligarchs took over business, how 'chosen few' concentrated wealth in their hands and amassed and laundered wealth out of Bangladesh. In all, justice, ethics and morality, almost at every level, reached a low.

Under such circumstances, we were asked to rebuild Bangladesh and give back the country to the people. To correct the ills of the past as also build a competitive and agile economy, and a just society.

In a drastically changed scenario, all political parties are now free to voice their views and opinions.

A key priority for us is also to make all public positions and institutions to account for their decisions and actions.

We are committed to promote and protect the fundamental rights - for people to speak in freedom, to assemble without fear or inhibition, to vote however they choose, to uphold the independence of the judiciary and freedom of press, including in the cyber domain.

In order to ensure that the child of a farmer or worker can scale the highest in the society, we prioritise allocation in education and health sectors over grandiose infrastructure development.  

We also aim at ensuring good governance, across all sectors.

In just seven weeks, the Government has initiated several actions.

At our request, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has dispatched a Fact-Finding Mission to investigate gross human rights violations during the people's movement and to suggest sustainable course correction. That mission has already started work on the ground in Bangladesh. I wish to register my deep appreciation to High Commissioner Volker Turk.

We have acceded to the International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, within two weeks in office. The required national legislation is underway so that we can effectuate its early implementation. An Inquiry Commission has started investigating all the cases of enforced disappearances reported during the past decade and a half.

In order to restore people's trust and confidence, and to ensure that the tragic past never recur in future Bangladesh, we have initiated reforms in certain prioritized sectors. In that direction, we launched independent Commissions to reform the electoral system, constitution, judicial system, civil administration, law and order sectors . A few more Commissions are on the cards to reform other sectors, including press and media.

In order to create a conducive environment for business, we have rolled out extensive reforms in banking and financial sectors. We affirm not to let any foreign business interest be affected.

Beyond rhetoric and numbers, we aim to establish effective safeguard mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of these reforms and create an enabling environment towards conduct of free, fair and participatory elections.

I would, therefore, call on the international community to continue and deepen engagements with Bangladesh in meeting our people's quest for democracy, rule of law, equality, prosperity, so that we can emerge as a just and inclusive democratic society.

Dr Yunus said, Let me congratulate you on your election as the President of the United Nations General Assembly. I would like to assure you of Bangladesh delegation's full cooperation throughout the Session.

I would also place on record our deep appreciation to the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, for his unwavering commitment to deliver on the UN mandates and address the global challenges.

I wish to assure that our government shall adhere to all international, regional and bilateral instruments that Bangladesh is party to. Bangladesh will continue to remain an active proponent of multilateralism, with the UN at the core.

Bangladesh is open to nurture friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect, upholding our dignity and pride and shared interests. 



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