Bangladesh's Yunus tackles 'law and order' as interim govt begins work
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcomed as a saviour in his country, Muhammad Yunus now faces many challenges.
00:06The head of Bangladesh's interim government is expected to restore calm.
00:10He'll have to first shed light on the clashes between police and protesters, which left
00:14over 450 people dead, and quell the anger that has risen against the Bangladeshi police,
00:20who apologised for firing on crowds of demonstrators, going on strike Tuesday until their security
00:26can be assured.
00:27The judiciary will also come under scrutiny for its past record of convicting opposition
00:32officials and activists, with protesters demanding that the former prime minister and her allies
00:37be brought to justice.
00:39We've repeatedly said that those involved in mass murder, crimes and corruption under
00:45this fascist regime will be brought to justice through the legal process.
00:50Do not take the law into your own hands.
00:52We seek neither revenge nor bloodshed but a peaceful Bangladesh.
00:57Security will be a major challenge for the interim government, as rights groups warn
01:01of attacks on religious minorities like Hindus, seen by some as allies of the former prime
01:06minister's party.
01:08They've had their temples attacked, businesses and homes torched by mobs wanting to take
01:12revenge.
01:14The role of the army during this interim period has yet to be determined.
01:19Its head appointed Muhammad Yunus to lead the government, but the question remains just
01:23how freely he will be able to govern.
01:26Yunus aims to bring back democracy, which can only happen through free elections.
01:31Under the constitution, elections should take place within 90 days of parliament being dissolved.
01:37Parliament was dissolved on August 6th, so the clock is already ticking.
01:42But there is a feeling that within Bangladesh, I think, that 90 days is not enough to undertake
01:48the reform.
01:49Though Bangladesh's economy is growing at over 6%, the unrest has shaken its garment
01:55industry, which accounts for 85% of the country's annual exports.
01:59Violence forced factories to close and garment orders to stop.
02:03Inequalities in the country also remain high, with NGOs reporting that one in two people
02:09lives on less than a dollar a day.