Yunus pledged to prosecute Hasina and others for deaths for student protest riots, but dodge his own accountability of law & order. | (Thu 21 Nov 2024 05:30)

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On August 8, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed in Bangladesh, just 3 days after Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League (AL), was deposed and fled the country. Md Yunus' primary task was to oversee the holding of national elections. According to Article 123(3) of Bangladesh’s Constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of parliament’s dissolution, which occurred on August 6. However, the election has yet to take place.

On November 17, Yunus marked 100 days in office, but in his speech, he did not offer a specific timeline for the election. He emphasized the need for electoral and institutional reforms before holding the polls, urging the nation to be patient. Yunus stated that the Election Commission would soon be formed, and the responsibility for organizing elections would then lie with them. He explained that reforms needed to be made during the election preparations, which could lead to a delay of several months.

The delay in the election process has sparked frustration, particularly from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The BNP has pressured Yunus' government to set a reasonable timeline for the elections and has called for political dialogue. In the past, a caretaker government under military supervision in 2006 delayed the elections for two years, which eventually led to Hasina's return to power. The BNP has warned against repeating such a prolonged delay and has organized protests calling for a quick election and reforms.

Yunus has insisted that the elections cannot be held until the necessary reforms are completed. Some sources suggest that these reforms could take until the end of 2025, meaning the elections may be pushed into early 2026, which would stretch the gap between elections to a level similar to the one under military rule—a scenario that the BNP strongly opposes.

In his 100-day speech, Yunus also pledged to hold Hasina and others accountable for human rights abuses during her 15 years in power, including allegations of enforced disappearances. Yunus has expressed intentions to seek the return of Hasina, who is believed to be in India, and has discussed the matter with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Additionally, Bangladesh has requested Interpol’s assistance in issuing a red notice for Hasina and her associates.

Md Yunus, a micro-finance economist but received estranged Nobel Peace Prize, is also the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, which was established by two CIA-linked American organisations in memory of a CIA-groomed Philippines president.

However, nothing compares to the fact that he is an asset to the Western World, particularly the United States. In 2009, Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the then US President-turned-war criminal Barack Obama.

A year later, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also the recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship from the US State Department.

When he was convicted, the United States came to his rescue and a set of geopolitical analysts consider him an asset of the US. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina, alike Pakistan's Imran Khan, hinted at a US role in her ouster as the US wanted St. Martin strategic island from Bangladesh which she denied.

Since Hasina left Bangladesh and charge was taken by Yunus, hundreds have been killed in the name of political chaos and absence of order and law. Who is responsible for it? Minorities are being killed and harassed and living in constant fear, whereas instead of solving the issue Yunus is disposing it saying mere propaganda. If Hasina has to face charges for riots where students looted police weapons and raged civil war where public at large and police both got killed. In fact on 5th August, during so-called student protest, videos were seen with students blowing bra & blouses of PM Hasina in parliament house with hatred-based slogans. The idols of Mujibur Rehman (Father of Bangladesh) being demolished. Despite it was the judiciary who was opposing reservation laws not Hasina, still due to the violent lynching mob, she had to take asylum in India. Isn't Md Yunus enjoying power without responsibility now? What mandate does he have to re-write the constitution, he is not democratically elected. Md Yunus once convicted for breaking labour law and named as 'blood sucker of poor masses' may be taking revenge. Who knows, with change in guard in future he has to face trial for the crime which is happening right now in Bangladesh too. Only time has the answer.