Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus pledged a firm commitment to democratic reform and institutional accountability during his address to the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly on Friday.
He said that the South Asian nation is on an “irreversible path” towards ensuring that autocrats or elected leaders cannot dismantle democracy.
“Our goal is clear,” said Yunus. “To create a democratic order where power is balanced, where no autocrat can ever return, where no elected leader can destroy democracy, and where those who are meant to protect the people can never again prey upon them.”
The interim head of government said that to realise this vision, his administration had established 11 independent commissions focused on governance, judiciary, elections, public administration, law enforcement, anti-corruption, and women’s rights, among other sectors. These commissions engaged in nationwide consultations and developed comprehensive reform proposals.
Professor Yunus made these remarks at the UN headquarters in New York, where German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock presided over the session as President of the General Assembly.
In his speech, Yunus stressed the government's decision to adopt a participatory approach to reform. “We could have chosen the easy path — reforms imposed by executive order. But we chose the hard path: reforms built through inclusion and sustained through consensus. We chose the path that endures,” he said.
Looking ahead to national elections scheduled for February next year, the Chief Adviser underscored the government's unwavering focus on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, asserting that reforms would continue irrespective of the electoral timeline.
Bangladesh, home to nearly 3% of the world’s population, is significant not only for its demographic weight, Yunus noted, but for the resilience of its people. “Our story matters because it is a reminder of the extraordinary power of ordinary people,” he said.
Recalling the pro-democracy movement known as the July Uprising, Yunus praised the country’s youth for resisting tyranny and igniting a national journey towards justice and equality. “It was our youth who stood up, who defeated tyranny, and who opened the path to a just and equal society,” he said.
The Chief Adviser outlined significant steps to safeguard human rights, including inviting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate past abuses, joining international human rights treaties such as the Convention on Enforced Disappearances and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and authorizing a three-year human rights mission in the country.
“These steps reflect the aspirations of our people: to build a democratic, inclusive, and pluralistic society,” he said.
Yunus presented three foundational principles for development: good governance, social inclusion, and sustainable growth. He warned that development is “temporary and fragile without accountability,” and condemned corruption-fueled infrastructure projects that serve political interests rather than public needs.
“When we assumed responsibility, we uncovered vast corruption and the theft of public resources that had left our economy dangerously exposed,” he said. “We are determined to put an end to this, so that development is never again used as an excuse to plunder the wealth of the people.”
Addressing economic challenges, Professor Yunus said the government had enacted critical reforms, including a restructuring of the revenue collection system. For the first time, legislation has been passed to separate the policy-making and implementation arms of tax administration — a move aimed at bolstering transparency and expanding the country’s revenue base.
“These measures are fully aligned with the Sevilla Commitment adopted at the recent Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development,” Yunus said. He also urged developed nations to fulfill their obligations under the same framework.
In concluding remarks, the Chief Adviser called for reforms in the governance of global financial institutions, the establishment of an inclusive international tax cooperation mechanism, coordinated action against illicit financial flows, and international support for the recovery of stolen assets.
SMS/
