Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that if the 'Yes' vote wins in the referendum, the country will change and misrule will not return to the country. The upcoming elections and referendum will bring an unprecedented change in the political structure of the country.
He made these remarks at a get-together with secretaries on Tuesday. Later, his remarks were presented at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital by the chief advisor's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam.
The press secretary said that about 70 officials, including senior secretaries and secretaries, were present at the get-together event. The chief advisor gave a limited speech and later took pictures with the secretaries.
Shafiqul Alam said that regarding the upcoming elections, the chief advisor said that the elections held in the past were not real elections; they were a kind of fake elections. However, this time the elections will be fair and peaceful. There are only two days left for the elections and the country has almost reached its goal.
Professor Yunus said that this election and referendum will bring an unprecedented change in the political structure of the country. He mentioned that this is the first time that expatriate Bangladeshis have been directly included in the political process of the country. The role that expatriates had in various mass uprisings and political movements in Bangladesh in the past has been more dignified and consolidated through this election. From now on, they will be able to play a stronger role in various issues of the country.
The chief advisor said that technology is being used extensively in this election, which has made the voting process easier for everyone. An app has been launched to help voters vote. At the same time, a separate election-specific app is also being used to monitor the security of about 43,000 polling stations.
He said that 'Election Friend Hotline-333' has been launched. About 25,700 body worn cameras are being used and CCTV cameras are being installed in all polling stations. He expressed hope that as a result of these initiatives, this year's election will be better than any previous one.
Professor Yunus said that a large number of election observers from various countries are coming to Bangladesh. This proves that the international community has regained confidence in Bangladesh's democracy. At the same time, it reflects that they are taking this election in Bangladesh very seriously. He said that the previous three elections held during Sheikh Hasina's tenure had no legitimacy and no significant international election observers came at that time.
The chief advisor said, "So far, there has been no tension surrounding the elections. The election campaign is going on very peacefully. Political parties are playing a responsible role. Even though the presence of people is high wherever the leaders go, the campaign remains peaceful."
Professor Yunus thanked the secretaries and said that the work they have done in the last 18 months is very commendable. The secretaries have played a cooperative role in issuing and implementing about 130 ordinances and have completed these works quickly.
He said, Bangladesh will move forward on the path of continuous development. Investors from different countries of the world will come to Bangladesh and set up factories. The country's young population is a huge asset, which will create huge employment opportunities in the future.
The chief advisor said that due to Bangladesh's Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan, investing in Bangladesh will get duty-free access to other countries. Due to this reality, many foreign investors will be interested in setting up factories in Bangladesh.
The chief advisor also expressed optimism that Bangladesh's future will be beautifully built if the 'yes' vote wins in the referendum.