Urgent Plea: Why Prof Yunus Demands an Immediate Mid-Term Election in Bangladesh – Northeast News
In a striking commentary, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has called on global leaders, including India, to help restore democracy in Bangladesh. Speaking with The Hindu, Yunus urged Bangladesh to conduct a mid-term election soon to reestablish democratic governance through public mandate, emphasizing that true democracy offers solutions to current crises.
Yunus, renowned for his development of social business and microcredit for the poor, implored the international community, particularly India, to encourage Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina towards peace. He condemned the deaths of students and citizens, likening the actions of law enforcement to an occupying force. He criticized the government’s use of excessive force on unarmed protestors in Dhaka, highlighting the fundamental rights to free expression and the failure of state responsibility in protecting citizens.
Calling for global leaders to recognize the severe human rights violations, Yunus pointed out the dubious legitimacy of Hasina’s government, marked by three controversial elections absent of opposition participation, thereby lacking democratic credibility. He stressed that a genuine election is the ultimate resolution to political problems, insisting that leaders must seek the people’s mandate.
Despite the government’s harsh response, labeling Yunus’ remarks as “anti-state”, his clarion call for democracy remains strong. Yunus questioned the necessity of military intervention in student protests, urging identification and appropriate handling of supposed threats rather than resorting to lethal violence against innocent citizens.
Further complicating the scenario, over 9,000 individuals, including leaders of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), were detained amidst allegations of inciting recent violence. This prompted Yunus and others to call for free and fair elections, underlining that democracy is the key to resolving such issues.
Meanwhile, diplomatic missions from 14 countries including the US, UK, and EU appealed for the protection of human rights and fair trials for those arrested during the recent unrest. India and China, however, have deemed the situation an internal matter of Bangladesh.
Original Story https://nenews.in/opinion/why-does-prof-yunus-demand-a-mid-term-election-in-bangladesh/12294/
Category : Opinion,Bangladesh,prof Yunus
Tags:
