Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus exchanged views with the delegation of the anti-discrimination student movement that led the July mass uprising. During this, he addressed the students, ‘The people of the country trust in the students. Hold on to this faith. Don’t let go. You are the guardians of the state; the state is because of you. Don’t forget this role. You have won one victory, another victory will come.’
He said these things at a view-sharing meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday (December 3) at 6:30 pm.
Professor Yunus said, ‘Many are here, many are not. Those who are not are also the guardians of the state. You have a responsibility to ensure that the state follows the right path, that it does not deviate. If you remember this, the state will be fine. Don't forget your guardianship.'
At this time, the students asked the chief adviser to insist on price control, giving state titles to the deceased, giving top priority to proper treatment to the injured, and ensuring maximum punishment for those involved in the July massacre. In addition, the students expressed concern that propaganda is being carried out against the government in the media and social media.
The chief adviser told the students, 'I met a few students earlier. Today I met many. It was good. I am sitting here today mainly to listen to you. What do you want from the government, what are your hopes, and whether you have any suggestions?'
Welcoming the students' suggestions regarding price control, the chief adviser said, 'Prices of commodities should be fixed. We don't want such explanations as syndicates or what. It cannot be that a few people control the market prices. We are trying to keep the prices of commodities stable. We want to keep the prices of commodities stable. Maximum efforts should be taken to keep the prices of commodities stable during Ramadan as well. There should be no sudden situation.’
On the suggestion to strengthen the local government, the chief adviser said, ‘There is a commission for local government reform. They will suggest, we will work. We want to leave power to the local government. Very few things will be at the high level. Corrupt system, once a fund is created, who will eat it? For that, proper measures must be taken in an orderly manner so that it is permanent.’
On the suggestion of the students regarding the state honors and titles of the martyrs in July, the chief adviser said, ‘We are working on this. We will not forget the contribution of those who were martyred in July. They will be given proper state status.’
Regarding the suggestion of the students that reforms are needed in the education sector, the chief advisor said, ‘The education system has been completely destroyed. This has been done deliberately so that no one in Bangladesh can become educated or skilled. Unemployment has been created. There is no incentive for entrepreneurs. We have to fix this. The youth should be developed as skilled.’
The students suggested making adequate accommodation arrangements for female students in public universities. The chief adviser said in this regard, ‘When I got admitted to the university, there were only four female students in our economics department. You are saying that now women students are about 52 percent in the university. This is a matter of great joy. The system of slavery in which seats were previously distributed in the university within the political circle has now been broken. The educational environment cannot be allowed to deteriorate.’
During the exchange of views, the issue of propaganda against the government on social media and the government’s work not being properly publicized in the media was repeatedly raised by the students. In response to such statements by the students, the chief adviser said, ‘Those who speak on social media are right to speak out against the government. The government does not have its own newspaper. There is only a press wing. They send press releases to newspapers. Some print them, some do not print them, or they shorten them to the last page or corner as they wish. The press wing is trying and working as they please. The government will not control any media. Newspapers will work independently – this is our policy. We will stick to this policy. I understand that you are a little upset. It is actually a little sad that the government's work is not reaching the people.'
The chief adviser said, 'The entire system has been destroyed. There is theft and fraud everywhere, banks are not working. The committee has given a white paper on the economy. I said, it is a historical document. I think it should be taught in every university. The Awami League is responsible for turning the country's economy into ruins. However, those who have declared that the tide of development is flowing must also be caught.'
'It is difficult to get out of the rubble that has been left. Wherever we turn, there is rubble. We are cleaning up this rubble. We are facing difficult situations when we start working.'
The students expressed their full trust and support for the interim government and assured the chief adviser of maximum cooperation in the reform work. They said that the people of the country are with the government. This is a government of the people. The people want the interim government to complete the necessary reforms.