Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has made it clear that neither he nor any member of his advisory council intends to be part of the next democratically elected government. He reiterated that the sole purpose of the current administration is to ensure a smooth and credible transition of power.
Speaking at a policy dialogue hosted by the prestigious Chatham House—Royal Institute of International Affairs—in London, Dr. Yunus emphasized, “Our job is to organize elections and ensure a peaceful handover of power to an elected government. That is our only mandate.”
When asked by a journalist whether he would consider joining the next government or taking any official position, Dr. Yunus responded unequivocally: “Absolutely not—there is no way. I believe none of our advisory council members wish to do so either.”
He further clarified, “What we want is to see the transfer of power completed in a way that satisfies the people. That is our responsibility.”
On the upcoming national election announced for April next year, Dr. Yunus stated, “It is extremely important to us that the election is conducted fairly and peacefully.”
Following the Q&A session, Dr. Yunus also participated in a panel discussion at Chatham House..
Remarks on Awami League
Responding to a question regarding the Bangladesh Awami League, Dr. Yunus said, “If a political party is involved in killing youths, enforced disappearances, and stealing public money, its legitimacy as a political entity becomes questionable.”
“Would you still call it a political party?” he asked rhetorically. “Then it is not a controversial judgment at all.”
He further commented, “In our view, the chapter ended when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5. However, those who fled—namely, leaders of the Awami League—have neither admitted their mistakes nor shown remorse. Instead, they continue to incite the public.”
According to Dr. Yunus, “For the sake of national security and political stability, the nation has decided to suspend the Awami League’s political activities for now.”
On Press Freedom and Recent Controversies
When asked about press freedom, Dr. Yunus said, “Never before has the media in Bangladesh enjoyed such freedom.”
Another journalist raised concerns about the reported demolition of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum by city authorities and the administration’s silence over it, as well as alleged gatherings by certain groups.
In response, Dr. Yunus acknowledged, “A lot of things happened at once, and not everything was handled perfectly. That was a turbulent period we’ve now passed. The situation was deteriorating rapidly, but things are now back in order. Restoring discipline in the country was a major task for us.”
