Restoring law and order first priority: Interim govt advisers
Finance and Planning Adviser of the newly-formed interim government Salehuddin Ahmed has said the country's economy has to be rejuvenated braving the existing economic challenges, especially in the financial and banking sector, after first restoring law and order nationwide.
"The pace and operations of our businesses have slowed down while there are various challenges in the economy especially in the banking and financial sector," he said after paying homage to the martyrs of the language movement at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital today.
The adviser vowed to restore discipline in the banking and the financial sector, as well as in the capital market.
Salehuddin, also a former central bank governor, said the interim government will also try to offset the impact of the recent student movement on people's lives and livelihoods.
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The advisers' portfolios were also announced today, with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus overseeing 27 ministries and divisions.
The chief adviser and 13 other advisers paid homage to the martyrs of the language movement at the Central Shaheed Minar.
After paying homage, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain told reporters that once law and order are restored, everything else will fall into place.
Touhid also said the government wants to maintain good ties with all countries. "We have to maintain a balance in our relations with the big powers," he said.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "My plan is still the same as before. Earlier, I used to do my work without state power, now I will do it with state power.
"I plan to lay the foundation for Bangladesh to embark on a truly democratic path," she said.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul said, "It is not our work alone, it is the work of the countrymen. Let us use the wonderful opportunity that the young society has given us to rebuild the country."
Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT Adviser Md Nahid Islam said the primary goal of the interim government is to swiftly implement the promise of rebuilding Bangladesh.
"This government was formed through a mass uprising. The people have faith in this government. Our primary goal is to swiftly implement the dream and promise of rebuilding Bangladesh that we have shown," he added.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said, "The activities of the students will continue on the streets. We will strive to create a beautiful Bangladesh through social reform and the reconstruction of the state."
"We will work to fully implement the demands of the students and the people," he added.
Earlier on the day, the chief adviser and 13 other advisers paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by laying wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar.
Nobel laureate and globally acclaimed economist Dr Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the chief adviser of the interim government on 8 August, along with other advisers.
Yunus took over the responsibility three days after the fall of the Awami League government in a student-led mass movement.
No decision yet on interim govt tenure
It was not possible to discuss or fix the term of the newly formed 17-member interim government immediately, Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters after emerging from an advisory council meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna today.
"The reason is — do you want reform? Without understanding that, it is not possible to talk about the term [of the government]. If you do not want reform, then it is a different discussion," she said.
"They [students] waged the movement to change the system against corruption. So, action must be taken against corruption," Rizwana said.
She also said, "There is no difficulty when power is in the hands of a democratic government. But if the government is undemocratic, then the law is misused."
"Therefore, discussions have taken place on identifying and removing the provisions of the Cyber Security Act which can be misused," said the adviser.
Rizwana Hasan said educational institutions will be reopened as soon as possible, taking into account the law and order situation.
