Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged student protest organisers to continue their efforts for realising the dream of a discrimination-free Bangladesh as the ousted Awami League government and its cronies would always be active to shatter the dreams.
The interim government’s advisers may not have the qualities required for helping realising this dream, but they can at least vow to keep working until reaching the goal, he noted personally pledging to work towards this end.
He was holding his first meeting with student protest coordinators and organisers, who guided the movement until Awami League’s fall, since taking office on 8 August. The meeting was held at the chief advisers’ Tejgaon office in the capital.
Earlier, Yunus held meetings with political parties, civil society members, journalists and business delegates.
Addressing the student-people demonstrators, Yunus said the interim government must bring to light all the atrocities Awami League (AL) government committed against student protesters and other civilians, and advisers must also make the most use of the opportunity created with the fall of the fascist 15-year regime.
He also called for making all university campuses politics free, saying that within the campus boundaries, a teacher can only be a teacher and a student only a student.
At the meeting, other advisers of the interim government were also present including: law adviser Asif Nazrul, environment adviser Syed Rizwana Hasan, fisheries and livestock adviser Farida Akter, ICT adviser Nahid Islam and sports adviser Asif Mahmud.
Student protest coordinators made a number of recommendations and placed demands for reforming the state apparatus.
Controlling mob and mob justice is the prime task of authorities, the students said urging necessary government steps in this regard. Otherwise, if the mob practice spreads, the fallen force would seek to exploit it, they warned.
They also called on the interim government to bring back the students going abroad to study. In many cases, the students don’t return after completing their studies, intensifying a brain drain in the country, the student protest leaders noted.
The also called for freeing the administration from the influence of Awami League cohorts.
With regards to reforming health sector, the students recommended forming a dedicated health service commission for medical students and doctors to ensure optimum healthcare services.
Civil service commission for public workers and judicial service commission for judges exemplify the effectiveness of such professional bodies in bringing accountability to their relevant fields.
For controlling inflation, the students urged oversight in production boosting and distribution activities. They also urged reducing prices of agricultural inputs like fertiliser, pesticides, tools and machinery.
