Power to be handed over to elected government through elections in February: Chief Advisor

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government, said the country is ready for national elections. The elections have been announced in the first half of February and this government will hand over power to the elected government then. He said these things at a stakeholder dialogue organized on the Rohingya issue at the ‘Hotel Bay Watch’ in Cox’s Bazar on Monday (August 25) afternoon. Professor Yunus said, we had announced the national parliamentary elections, that the country is now going through stability. The elections have been announced in the first half of February. An elected government will take over the interim government then. Calling for international initiatives to save the Rohingya from the persecution of the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army, the chief advisor further said, it is our moral responsibility to stop the armed killers from implementing their horrific plan of ethnic cleansing. Today, we hope that we can find a solution from here for the Rohingya to return to their homes, he said. The Principal Advisor said that in 2017 and even before that, Bangladesh opened its borders on humanitarian grounds to save the lives of Rohingyas despite limited resources and capabilities. It is a moral duty to stop the armed killers from implementing their horrific plan of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas. The Myanmar government and the Arkan Army must ensure that no more Rohingyas enter Bangladesh, stating that they will contribute to the dignified return of the Rohingyas, he made a 7-point proposal to ensure justice and accountability. The Principal Advisor said that the problem was created by Myanmar and the solution lies there. Earlier, he reached Cox’s Bazar around 10 am. Earlier, the Principal Advisor’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said that he would sit in on a stakeholder dialogue on the Rohingya situation. The three-day conference titled ‘Take Away to the High-Level Conference on the Rohingya Situation’ began on Sunday (August 24) at the ‘Hotel Bay Watch’ in Inani, Ukhia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the High Representative for Rohingya Issues jointly organized the conference. On the first afternoon of the conference, Rohingya representatives directly exchanged views with foreign partners. Representatives from 40 countries joined it. All partners working on the Rohingya, including the United Nations, were present. From the three-day conference, they will find a way to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar. On the last day, Tuesday (August 26), foreign guests will visit the Rohingya camps. It is reported that in addition to Rohingya repatriation, the three-day conference will emphasize important issues such as international funds, genocide trials, food aid and boosting the morale of the Rohingya. In addition, the government will present the proposals and statements from the conference at the conference to be held at the United Nations on September 30.