Chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has categorically said that he has no intention of forming any political party in the country or getting involved in politics.
The UK-based newspaper Financial Times published an interview of the Nobel laureate on Wednesday, where Muhammad Yunus clarified his stance.
Earlier against the backdrop of 1/11 in 2007, Yunus announced the name of this prospective political party, Nagorik Shakti (Citizens’ Power), saying he had a mission to enter the political arena in his nation in a hope of changing its identity from “bottomless basket” to “rising tiger”.
However, on 3 May in the same year, Yunus published a third open letter and put his political ambitions to rest.
About the forthcoming election, Yunus, during the interview, said that his government has yet to finalise any roadmap for the next general election.
“We will hold talks with all political parties upon completion of all electoral processes. Your duty is to bring normalcy in all sectors and carry out reforms smoothly,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country and took refuge in India in the face of student-led mass upsurge on 5 August this year.
In the wake of the political changeover, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grave concern over the reported attacks on Hindu community in Bangladesh.
However, the country’s human rights bodies did not confirm the authenticity of the attacks on the Hindu community.
Referring to the matter of India’s concern, Yunus said that a smaller number of casualties took place during the political unrest.
“They were targeted for their involvement in Awami League politics, not because they were considered Hindu,” Yunus said during the interview.
Putting importance on maintaining friendly relationships with India, the chief adviser said, “We are neighbors. We need each other. We must maintain a good relationship as two neighbors should have.”
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
