In his first political speech, Bangladesh's Yunus pledges support for the Rohingya people.
The temporary president of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, made a commitment to uphold Bangladesh's garment trade and assist the Rohingya people seeking asylum in the nation in his first major speech outlining government policy.
In front of diplomats and UN personnel on Sunday, Yunus outlined his top goals and promised that his government "is going to maintain to support the million-plus Rohingya people sheltered in Bangladesh.”
"Humanitarian activities for the Rohingya people and their ultimate restoration to their native Myanmar with protection, honor, and full privileges require the unwavering support of the worldwide community," he declared.
There are roughly one million Rohingya living in Bangladesh. The majority of them left neighboring Myanmar in 2017 following a military crackdown that is currently being investigated by a UN court for genocide.
As fighting between the government forces and the rebel Arakan Army (AA) in westerners Rakhine State intensifies, additional Rohingya are traveling from Myanmar to Bangladesh with war-related complications, according to medical organization Doctors without Borders, also known by its French initials MSF.
It also stated in an announcement that women and children made up more than 40% of the hospitalized.
In October, Yunus, an 84-year-old economist who has won the Nobel Peace Prize, returned from Europe after President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed him to head an interim administration, meeting an important request made by the leaders of the student protests.
Sheikh Hasina, 76, his predecessor at the time, was overthrown by antigovernment rallies on August 5 and left the nation by aircraft.
The nation's vital textile industry was severely disrupted during the weeks of turmoil and large-scale demonstrations that overthrew Hasina, with producers moving orders abroad.
Yunus declared, "We are a major player in the global clothing supply chain, and we will not accept anyone who tries to disrupt it."
Approximately 85 percent of Bangladesh's $55 billion in yearly exports come from its 3,500 textile factories.
During the previous month, "hundreds of thousands of our brave pupils and fellow citizens rose up to revolt against the cruel dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina," Yunus said in his policy address, and he promised to look into the deaths of these individuals.
Between the beginning of a police assault on student demonstrations and her removal three weeks later, almost 450 individuals lost their lives.
We desire an unbiased, globally reputable inquiry into the atrocity," Yunus declared on Sunday. "We will offer the UN investigators any assistance they require." Bangladesh will soon host a UN fact-finding team to look into the "atrocities" that took place throughout the student-led rallies.
In the not-too-distant future, Yunus has also promised to host elections that are impartial and free. During the administration before it, Yunus was found guilty of breaking labor rules in a trial that was widely criticized for being driven by politics.
