Yunus stressed the need for unity for the sake of the nation’s interest, noting that they (who are campaigning against Bangladesh) are very powerful in terms of resources and arrangements….reports Asian Lite News
Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus said that the entire world must know that Bangladesh remains united and all that it has achieved recently was gained through joint efforts, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Dhaka Tribune reported that Yunus sought suggestions from all political parties so that Bangladesh could proceed towards the right path without any errors.
In his opening remarks at a discussion with political parties at Foreign Service Academy, Yunus said that an imaginary story is being spread about Bangladesh which is not limited to a single country but also to other big countries. He stressed that it is important to prove the perception wrong through joint efforts and establishing the truth.
He said that many people do not apparently like ‘new Bangladesh’, Dhaka Tribune reported, adding that the government is open for foreigners to come and see the situation on the ground.
Yunus stressed the need for unity for the sake of the nation’s interest, noting that they (who are campaigning against Bangladesh) are very powerful in terms of resources and arrangements.
Briefing the press after the meeting, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the key message of the meeting is that they will remain united for the sake of the country’s interest, sovereignty and existence. “We will never deviate from this,” he said.
Nazrul said there is no reason to think of Bangladesh as “powerless, weak and submissive” and Bangladesh will remain united against any propaganda. “We will uphold our unity,” he said, adding that the entire nation remained united against “India’s propaganda”.
Advisers Adilur Rahman Khan, Mahfuj Alam, and representatives from various political parties including BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami took part in the talks at the Foreign Service Academy.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moyeen Khan, Syed Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and AZM Zahid Hossain were among the BNP leaders. Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, Ganosamhati Zonayed Saki, Nagorik Oikya’s Mahmudur Rahman Manna, and Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Nurul Haque Nur and Rashed Khan also joined the meeting.
The statement came after Bangladesh drew major backlash from several world leaders following the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das.
US Congressman Brad Sherman issued a statement on Tuesday calling on Bangladesh’s interim government to protect its Hindu minority and address the ongoing protests by Hindus and minority communities over recent attacks and harassment.
New banknotes not to have Mujibur Rahman’s image
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is set to remove the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Sheikh Hasina and the iconic figure behind the founding of the country, from its currency notes.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh Bank is printing new notes, including the features of the July uprising referring to the student-led protests forcing Hasina to flee the country on August 5.
According to the central bank, banknotes of Taka 20, 100, 500, and 1,000 are being printed on the instructions of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The new notes will not include the image of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Religious structures, Bengali traditions and “graffiti” drawn during the July uprising will be included. The new notes are expected to be released within the next six months.
Initially, the design of the four notes is being changed, and the others will be redesigned in phases, said authorities.
The Finance Ministry’s Finance Institute Division submitted a detailed design proposal for the new notes in September. The protest against the controversial job quota system under the Hasina-led government saw attacks on the legacy of Mujibur Rahman as well. His statues and murals were targeted and damaged by the protesters.
Hasina in her first public address attacked Yunus and said he is involved in ‘genocide’ and killing of minorities including Hindus. The Awami League supremo alleged that there were plans to assassinate her and her sister Sheikh Rehana just like their father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was murdered in 1975.
Hasina, who is currently in India, said that the armed protesters were directed towards Ganabhaban. “If the security guards opened fire, many lives would have been lost…I told them (guards) not to fire no matter what happened.”
“Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, Yunus has been involved in genocide in a meticulously designed manner. The masterminds—the student coordinators and Yunus—are behind this genocide,” she added.
After Hasina’s oustal, Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread attacks against minorities. India has expressed deep concerns over the rising incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities.
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