Yunus remains adamant to make Hasina face justice, says 'people won't forgive' him otherwise

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the country’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must face justice or the people won’t forgive his interim regime. Yunus made it clear that he would not allow Hasina or any key figures of the administration to escape punishment. Bangladesh has been trying to extradite Hasina from India, which has led to brewing diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

“We’ll bring her (Hasina) to justice. It has to happen, otherwise people will not forgive us,” he told UAE state-owned English daily The National. He maintained that his administration is working on getting the deposed prime minister and her senior officials back home so that they can face the full force of law.

“We have sent notice to India that Sheikh Hasina should be repatriated - we have lots of evidence, including the UN High Commissioner’s Report on Human Rights,” Prof Yunus told The National. The interview took place on the sidelines of World Governments Summit in Dubai. “This is a testimonial to everything they have done. The UN has documented this and we have stacks of evidence of what she and her government, and her immediate supporters, have done to the country.”

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“We have already started the legal process, so we are hoping that the legal process will continue and we’ll bring her to justice. It has to happen, otherwise people will not forgive us,” he added. Meanwhile, supporters of the Awami League who are still in the country continue to face the wrath of the people of Bangladesh.

Yunus pledges to bring strong reforms.

When asked about the kind of reforms, the Bangladeshi chief adviser is trying to bring in, Yunus maintained that his team aims to rebuild a more prosperous, secure nation with a strong, democratically elected leadership. He noted that six commissions have been set up to bring reforms to different sections of the country’s fabric.

These commissions are tasked to bring reforms in the judiciary, electoral system, police and administration. According to The Dhaka Tribune, an anti-corruption commission is also tasked with recovering government funds stolen or misused by the previous administration. “Our immediate target is to restore law and order as soon as possible, and fix the economy so it is functioning again, along with the banking system,” Prof. Yunus told The National.

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“We take these recommendations and go to all the political parties and civil societies to ask which one you would like to implement now, which one you would like to implement in the future and which one you don’t want to implement at all,” he explained.

“That’s the limit of our government. Then we will be happy to have a decent election for the first time in 16 years - a reliable, visible and transparent election. People will celebrate and our job will be done.”

While speaking on the stage in Dubai on Friday, Yunus insisted that he is pleased to step aside from his post when his task is complete. “Now we have a consensus-building commission to hear the recommendations that are agreed upon for a charter that will then lead to an election in December of this year,” he said. “When my job is done, I will hand it over to the elected government,” he furthered.