Yunus reiterates for fair polls

Staff Reporter :

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has once again affirmed the government’s pledge to conduct free, fair, and peaceful elections, stating that comprehensive preparations are progressing at full speed to ensure the successful holding of the parliamentary elections and the referendum.

“We are fully prepared,” Prof Yunus said, warning that any attempt to undermine peace or stability ahead of the polls would be addressed with firmness.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks during a farewell meeting with the United States Chargé d’Affaires to Bangladesh, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, who paid a courtesy call on him at the State Guest House Jamuna on Monday.

The meeting covered a range of issues, including the upcoming February parliamentary elections and referendum, bilateral trade, civil aviation, labour sector reforms initiated by the Interim Government, and the overall state of Bangladesh–US relations.

Ambassador Jacobson, who is concluding an eventful year-long tenure in Bangladesh, praised Prof Yunus’s leadership over the past 17 months and reaffirmed the United States government’s support for the forthcoming elections, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

She also commended the reform initiatives undertaken by the Interim Government, with particular emphasis on what she described as the “truly remarkable and extraordinary” labour laws, noting that these reforms would help boost foreign direct investment in Bangladesh.

The US envoy further welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw 45 out of 46 cases previously filed against labour leaders, calling it a positive step toward strengthening labour rights.

In response, Prof Yunus termed the new labour ordinance an “excellent piece of legislation,” noting that prominent Bangladeshi labour activists have publicly endorsed the reforms, including the Interim Government’s ratification of key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

Discussions also touched on funding for humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya population.

The Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to the United States for its continued support, noting that the US remains the largest single donor of life-saving aid to more than one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas living in camps in southeastern Bangladesh. He expressed hope that this support would continue in the future.

Prof Yunus thanked Ambassador Jacobson for her “critical work” during her tenure, describing her as a “friend of Bangladesh,” and extended an invitation for her to visit the country again.

National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.