Have faith in Prof Yunus

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM

Bangla Press Desk: At the international conference on Rohingya refugees held in Cox’s Bazar last Monday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said, “The country is ready for the February elections.” Earlier, on the anniversary of the July Revolution, the chief adviser had formally announced that the national election would be held before the upcoming Ramadan. He and his government remain steadfast in that decision. Under Prof Yunus’s leadership, the interim government is advancing towards elections. He repeatedly reminds us: when he gives his word, he keeps it. Prof Muhammad Yunus is a symbol of peace for the world. Although he is greatly respected in Bangladesh, his honor and reputation are even greater internationally. Across the globe, he is regarded as a role model for peace and an icon of youth. We are fortunate to have a world-renowned figure like Prof Muhammad Yunus as our head of government. He did not voluntarily seek the role of chief adviser of the interim government; rather, he was compelled to accept this responsibility by the spontaneous will of the people. Throughout his life, he remained distant from centers of power, dedicating himself to the welfare of humanity. It must be acknowledged that as long as Prof Yunus leads the interim government, the light of hope in Bangladesh has not dimmed. The country has not lost its way. Over the past year, this vibrant 84-year-old has been making tireless efforts to rebuild Bangladesh from the ruins of autocracy. He has been working relentlessly to construct a new Bangladesh. It is undeniable that the expectations of the people over the past year have not been fully met. In many cases, there has been disappointment. Yet despite everything, the people agree on one thing: as long as Prof Yunus is here, Bangladesh will remain on the right path. Our journey toward building a new Bangladesh free of inequality will continue. Prof Muhammad Yunus is someone who has been honored and awarded worldwide. Not only did he receive the Nobel Peace Prize, but also the United States’ highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has received the FIFA Peace Award, the Activist Award, the Leadership Award, and more than two hundred other awards from different countries. Among current heads of state and government across the world, without doubt, our Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is held in one of the highest places of respect. This is a matter of pride for Bangladesh. Because of him, we have managed to overcome the obstacles and conspiracies of the past year.

Take the example of US tariffs: when the world was in turmoil over American tariff measures, Bangladesh was relatively at ease. When unjust tariffs were imposed on Bangladesh, Prof Yunus was neither shaken nor drawn into diplomatic disputes. Instead, he wrote a letter to US President Donald Trump. As a result of that letter, tariffs were suspended for three months not only for Bangladesh but also for many other countries. Later, in early August, only a minimal tariff was imposed on Bangladesh – lower than what many other countries faced. This was a major diplomatic victory for Prof Yunus. As long as he is in charge, Bangladesh has no reason to lose hope. The people believe he will steer the country to its desired destination. He carefully and thoughtfully takes each step, working day and night to build democracy. That is why we must all place our trust in him. We must remember: when he gives his word, he keeps it. This is Prof Muhammad Yunus’s defining characteristic. When he makes a commitment, he fulfills it. That is why he is seen as a symbol of trust worldwide. When he began microcredit programs in Jobra village, he declared that through microcredit he would alleviate rural poverty, and he did. Once Bangladesh was a symbol of hunger and poverty. People died of starvation in every village. The cries of the homeless and hungry were everywhere. Many destitute families used fishing nets as clothing to hide their shame. From those conditions, Prof Yunus brought smiles to rural faces. He made people self-reliant and taught them to dream. Poverty has significantly decreased in villages of Bangladesh – an achievement that belongs to him. His innovation, microcredit, has greatly contributed to rural poverty alleviation. He also told the youth not to chase after jobs but to become entrepreneurs, to create jobs themselves. His idea of social business is now recognised worldwide as one of the most effective ways to reduce inequality. Throughout his life, he has proven that when he takes responsibility, he fulfills it with dedication. With this in mind, when Prof Yunus declared that elections would be held in February, it was certainly a thoughtful decision made for the welfare of Bangladesh. Over the past year, we have seen clearly that Prof Yunus has no personal ambitions. He has no hunger for power. He does not seek to cling to office. Repeatedly, in interviews with national and international media, he has said that after the election he will return to his work of serving humanity. He has no desire to be part of the next government. In other words, he does not want to damage the people’s trust in him or his reputation for neutrality. That is why all political parties should trust and believe in him.

Yet, after Prof Yunus announced a specific roadmap for elections, some political parties began to show undesirable and intolerant behavior. Some are making unreasonable demands intended to obstruct elections, even signaling possible sabotage. We know that remnants of fallen fascism do not want elections to be held. Certain quarters are plotting to create chaos before the vote. That is why we must all remain vigilant. We must accept Prof Yunus’s leadership and place our trust in him. When he says elections will be held in February, all political parties must accept this and cooperate. After all, he did not accept the role of Chief Adviser for personal gain or luxury but because of the people’s will. All political parties still agree that Prof Yunus is a qualified leader. They acknowledge that under his leadership, Bangladesh is heading toward the right destination. If that is true, then they must have faith in him. His decisions should not be opposed. We are passing through a critical and complex time. There are conspiracies both at home and abroad. If we destroy our unity and fight among ourselves, we will miss our desired victory. That is why political parties must accept his decision and move forward according to his roadmap. Since he has declared elections in February, all political parties must work toward ensuring free and peaceful elections then. We must remember: if elections are delayed or disrupted by political divisions, it will be the people of Bangladesh who suffer. Disorder and violence will reappear. Bangladesh’s image in the world will be tarnished. Surely we do not want to dishonor such a world-renowned and respected figure. Political parties may have disagreements about the electoral system – some may demand proportional representation, others may debate the July Accord. But whatever the differences, in the end all solutions must come from a sovereign parliament. Let Bangladesh proceed on the path of democracy. Let there be debate and discussion among different views in a democratic Bangladesh. Through such debate, the right way will emerge. The people of Bangladesh will determine the country’s future. That is why Prof Muhammad Yunus has done the right thing by deciding on the election. He made this decision in light of his long career and vast experience. It is now the duty of political parties to act responsibly, honour his decision, and turn the election into a festival of democracy in Bangladesh. This article was originally published on Daily Sun.

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

Have faith in Prof Yunus

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