Interim govt ready for elections next February: CA Yunus

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said the interim government is ready to hand over power through national elections scheduled in February next year.

"We restored institutions to function within just about a year. So, now we are ready for elections," said Muhammad Yunus while speaking to reporters during a joint press meet after the official talks and signing of five MoUs with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today (12 August).

The interim government, which came to power amid political unrest, has focused on institutional reforms and economic recovery. Muhammad Yunus emphasised that holding a credible election is now the administration's top priority.

He also appealed for international support ahead of the polls. "We need lots of support and we are looking forward to Malaysia's support – we bank on them," he added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they consider Bangladesh an important partner as its workers are playing a key role in working together and contributing to the development of the two nations, reports UNB.

"We want to thank Malaysia for hosting so many of our people and we hope this door will remain open and become wider so that we can host many other young people to come and work in Malaysia and learn a lot," Prof Yunus said.

He said Bangladeshi workers who come to Malaysia learn many things and when they go back home start their own businesses and launch their own economic activities. "So, we are very grateful to Malaysia for doing that."

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh and Malaysia are getting closer and closer for many other reasons, particularly because many Bangladeshi workers are working here.

He said the workers send their income back to Bangladesh, which provides sustainability for their lives and their families, helping them send their children to school and get a good education.

"It's not workers coming from outside – let them work. It's not like that. They're very happy to work here, the chief adviser said.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh is open for business and there is tremendous opportunity for Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh.

"We are looking for investment from Malaysia and that's what we've been discussing. We have our own human resources that we can offer and also technology that we can offer in Bangladesh," he said.

Prof Yunus also said Malaysia can invest in Bangladesh and manufacture products to sell to the rest of the world.

"So, this is one we're hoping will get a close relationship in financial and investment issues in Bangladesh. Widening up our opportunities so that we build an economy which will be sustainable and which will be a high-growth economy. We are waiting for that," he said.

The chief adviser said they went through a list of all the ideas and issues they want to work on together with Malaysia, both culturally and multilaterally. "So, we're very happy. We want to thank the people of Malaysia for the support they have provided to us in Bangladesh."