DHAKA — Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh will hold its 13th national election before Ramadan in February of next year, and that the interim government is committed to a credible vote.
Yunus made the remarks Tuesday evening during a video call from Washington with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the state news agency BSS reported.
Yunus told Georgieva the interim government is committed to holding a timely and credible election, and that the vote will be held before the holy month of Ramadan in February. After the election, he will return to his previous work, he said.
BSS reported that the IMF managing director praised Yunus’s leadership.
Georgieva said Bangladesh’s economy has turned around significantly since Yunus took office, and the credit belongs to him.
Yunus said his government has already taken several steps to restructure the banking sector and strengthen revenue collection. “We inherited a shattered and completely broken economy. Some people literally fled with bags full of money from the banks,” he said.
Recalling the crisis facing the economy, the IMF chief said, “Your achievement has impressed me. You have done much in a short time. You took charge of the country when the risk of further deterioration was very high. You are the right person at the right time.”
Yunus recalled his first meeting with Georgieva at the U.N. General Assembly in New York last year, saying that meeting played an important role in Bangladesh’s economic recovery.
The chief adviser reiterated that a credible election will be held on schedule before Ramadan in February. He clarified that after the election, he will return to his previous work.
During the call, the IMF chief placed particular emphasis on reforming Bangladesh’s banking sector and increasing domestic revenue. “Bold reforms are inevitable to reach a strong position in this invaluable period of Bangladesh’s history,” she said.
Yunus said the government has already begun structural changes in the banking sector and initiatives to increase revenue collection.
“We inherited a completely broken economy. Some literally stole bags of money from the banks and fled,” he said.
Regional issues also came up in the discussion. Yunus mentioned the ongoing youth movement in Nepal and Bangladesh’s aspiration to join ASEAN. He also briefed Georgieva on progress in major infrastructure initiatives, including new port and terminal projects in Dhaka.
Finance Adviser Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed and Finance Secretary Khairuzzaman Mozumder were present during the call.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report