Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged the people to cooperate with the interim government to accomplish reforms, announcing formation of six commissions to carry out the ongoing reformation.
"We want reforms. It is our sincere request - please don't go to the spectators' gallery after bestowing the key responsibility of reform on us. Stay with us. We will do the reform together. It is the responsibility for all," he said in a televised address to the nation in the evening.
Dr Yunus called upon all to bring reform to their own world too, saying bringing reform to a nation does not mean only reform of the government, BSS and UNB reports.
"Bring reform in your business if you are a businessman. Business groups should bring reforms through their respective associations. Bring reforms in associations. Rewrite the constitution of the associations. If you are a worker, you should bring reform in your work," he said.
"If you are a political leader or activist, bring reform in your field. Bring reform in your organisation if you are the head of the organisation.
“I urge everyone to take this as an opportunity. Through this reform, we want to start a new journey as a nation. We all expect that this journey would establish us as a respectable nation in the world," the chief adviser said.
Dr Yunus, said the fascist government in Bangladesh has fallen in the face of the historic July uprising of students, workers and masses and the sacrifice of thousands of people.
"We have got an unprecedented time and opportunity to implement the message and aspirations of this mass-upsurge," he said.
It has become necessary to complete some national reforms in order to implement the aspirations and prevent the recurrence of fascism or autocratic rule in Bangladesh and introduce a state system based on people's ownership, welfare-oriented and dedicated to public interest, he said.
The Chief Adviser said one of the central points of the reform plans is to establish a fair election system and good governance.
"As we believe in people's voting rights and people's ownership, the improvement of the electoral system has been given importance in our reform plans. We think, it is in no way acceptable to impose tyranny and misrule of the majority on the people in the name of elections or to keep all the power monopolized to one person or family or any group," he said.
Dr Yunus said the government is thinking of reforming the Election Commission (EC) and other institutions related to elections to eliminate these fears.
"In addition, we feel the need for constitutional reforms to ensure the representation and interests of people from all walks of life and to reflect the message of the July mass uprising," he said.
Reform of four institutions - police administration, public administration, judicial administration, anti-corruption commission- which are related to the electoral system is essential for fair and free elections, he said.
As an initial step to reform these issues, the government has initially decided to form six commissions, he said.
The Chief Adviser said six eminent citizens have been appointed to head these commissions. Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar will act as the head of electoral system reform commission while Sarfraz Chowdhury as head of police administration reform commission, Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman as head of judiciary reform commission, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman as head of the anti-corruption reform commission, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury as head of public administration reform commission and Dr Shahdeen Malik as head of constitution reform commission.
The names of the other members of these commissions will be decided in consultation with the heads of the respective commissions, Prof Yunus said.
After this, the government will continue the process of formation of commissions on various other issues, he added.
He expressed his belief that the reform of these institutions will also contribute to establishing a public ownership-based, accountable and welfare-oriented state system.
Dr Yunus said the Election Commission, once fully constituted, is expected to formally begin its work on October 1 and they expect it to be completed within the next three months.
“Based on the Commission's report, the government will hold consultations with major political parties at the next stage,” he said adding that at the final stage, the outline of reform ideas will be finalised on the basis of a three-to-seven-day long consultation meeting with students, civil society, representatives of political parties and representatives of the government.
Advisory council members, students, workers, representatives of mass movements, representatives of civil society and political parties will be present in the deliberations and consultation meetings of the commissions.
“We believe that this will make the whole nation strong and optimistic in the implementation of the message of the July mass uprising and uniting all to rebuild the state.”
He said they have a lot of work ahead of them and they all want to move towards the same goal. “We all want to ensure equal rights to every member of our family, be he/she sweeper, student, teacher or from any religion. This is the main goal of our reforms. Let us quickly implement the goal of this revolution of students, workers and people.”
Prof Yunus said in their first month, they may not have been able to move forward with the speed and enthusiasm that they had in view of the actual situation.
“If the law and order situation of the country is kept normal, we hope we can boost our speed a lot. For this reason, I am asking for the cooperation of all the people of the country - teachers, students, farmers, workers, professionals, big businesspeople, small businesspeople, day laborers, housewives,” Prof Yunus said.
He said their work is tough, but as a nation they cannot afford to fail this time. “We must succeed. This success will come because of you and it will come because of your cooperation. Our job will be to make your and my dreams come true.”
Prof Yunus said they are starting the second month. “In our second month, I will try to create strong confidence in your mind.”
“Be patient, I will not tell you this at all. We all get impatient thinking when so much work will be completed. We will be impatient. Why not? But it will work properly. I will show no sign of impatience in work,” he said.
Prof Yunus ended her speech sending his greetings to everyone – people of the country, children, teenagers, young people, students, old people, men and women.
He reiterated that they want good relations with India and other neighboring countries.
But, he said, that relationship should be based on fairness and equality.
"With India, we have already started discussions on high-level bilateral cooperation in dealing with floods."
He said he has taken the initiative to revive the SAARC grouping of nations with a view to enhancing regional cooperation in South Asia.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif are among the heads of government that have had telephone conversations with him, Prof Yunus said.
After assuming office, Prof Yunus said, the Heads of Government of various countries congratulated him over the telephone and sent greetings.
Ambassadors and high commissioners stationed in Dhaka met him and assured him of strengthening bilateral cooperation.
“At my request, the government of the United Arab Emirates announced amnesty to 57 Bangladeshis who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for participating in anti-fascist protests,” Prof Yunus said.
Some of them have already returned to the country. “It’s very rare.”
Prof Yunus said they want the country to be known with respect to the world as a democratic country.
bd-pratidin/GR
