Dr, Humayer Chowdhury: It seems there is no nation on Earth as foolish as ours. A figure so universally respected and truly wise—such a person may not be born in Bangladesh again for a hundred years. And yet, at this late stage in life, he has taken it upon himself—with unwavering hope—to try and transform the fate of this wretched, helpless, corruption-plagued nation. If he can lay the groundwork for real change—create a livable future for the generations to come—what more could he possibly desire at this age?
In 53 years of independence, no political party has brought real change to the lives of ordinary people. Whatever development has occurred has only benefited party leaders and their loyalists.
Even now, the bitter infighting between these political factions is extinguishing the last glimmer of hope. If we let this chance slip through our fingers, we will again plunge into darkness as a nation.
Then, the military will seize power. We will be beaten again, silenced again, stripped of our right to vote—and perhaps that’s what we deserve.
However,
The world recognizes Dr. Yunus as a Nobel Laureate is more than a global icon. His departure would not just be a loss; it would be a setback to a nation still finding its footing.
Let it be clear: he must stay—not because it is easy, but because it is right. Because Bangladesh’s future deserves nothing less.
Nevertheless, at this critical juncture, it is also imperative that Professor Dr. Md. Yunus takes decisive and responsible actions to restore public order, uphold democratic integrity, and ensure a peaceful transition. The following measures can be sustained:
- Cabinet Restructuring: Immediately remove sluggish indolent and controversial figures from the cabinet. Introduce new, dynamic, and credible individuals—beyond NGO circles—who embody integrity, energy, and public trust.
- Establish a National Security Council (NSC): Form an independent, high-level council chaired by the Chief Advisor. The NSC should be tasked with strategic policy coordination, national risk assessment, crisis response planning, and maintaining internal stability.
- Engage Political Leaders: Initiate open dialogue with all major political parties. Develop a time-bound, transparent roadmap to a free and fair election—fulfilling prior commitments to democratic reform.
- Strengthen Law and Order: Collaborate with the NSC to develop robust and enforceable policies addressing public safety, law enforcement coordination, and prevention of civil unrest.
- Regulate Public Demonstrations: Enforce strict guidelines to prevent disruptive rallies and demonstrations that paralyse city life. Democratic expression must not come at the expense of public peace and everyday citizens’ wellbeing.
- Implement a Political Code of Conduct: Require all political parties to commit to ethical standards in discourse and engagement. Encourage constructive criticism and prohibit personal attacks or incitement.
- Define the Proper Role of the Armed Forces: Emphasize that the armed forces exist to safeguard national and international security—not to engage in routine governance. Military leadership must maintain strict neutrality and communicate on national matters solely through the head of state.
- National Consensus Commission (NCC): Under the leadership of Professor Yunus NCC to approve reform points unanimously agreed upon by all political parties as soon as possible. Once approved, dissolve all existing reform commissions and ensure the final set of reforms is publicly released to guarantee transparency and accountability.
- Refrain from Strategic Decision-Making:
Priority should be given to all activities essential for conducting a historic, exemplary, free, and fair election within the designated timeframe. Strategic decisions or settlements on critical national issues should be deferred to elected government.