"One Victory Achieved, Another Will Come": Dr. Yunus to Students

Addressing students, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that students are also part of the government. "The people of this country trust you. Hold on to that trust and don't let it slip away. Through your movement, you've achieved one victory, and another is on the way," he remarked.

He made these comments during a discussion with representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Tuesday (December 3) at 6:30 PM.

Dr. Yunus encouraged the students, saying, "Never lose hope. You’ve made the impossible possible. You've changed the country, and you can do even more. You must fulfill the hopes of the people or at least move forward in that direction. One victory has been achieved, and another will follow. You remind us to stay vigilant and alert."

During the meeting, students urged the Chief Adviser to focus on controlling commodity prices, granting state honors to those who lost their lives, ensuring proper medical care for the injured, and guaranteeing maximum punishment for those responsible for the July massacre. They also expressed concerns about misinformation against the government being spread through media and social platforms.

Dr. Yunus acknowledged their concerns, stating, "I’ve previously met with a few students individually, but today I had the chance to meet many of you together. This is good. The primary purpose of this meeting is to hear your thoughts—what you expect from the government, your suggestions, and your advice."

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On controlling commodity prices, Dr. Yunus assured the students, "Prices need to remain stable. We don't want excuses like syndicates controlling the market. A handful of people cannot hold the market hostage. We are trying to stabilize prices, especially during Ramadan, to ensure there are no sudden disruptions."

Regarding local government reforms, he said, "A commission has been set up to provide recommendations. We aim to empower local governments, delegating authority to them while retaining only minimal oversight at higher levels. However, this needs to be done in an organized manner to prevent corruption and misuse of funds."

On state recognition for the July martyrs, Dr. Yunus said, "We are working on this. The contributions of those who were martyred in July will not be forgotten. They will be accorded proper state honors."

On education reform, he highlighted, "The education system has been systematically destroyed to prevent the country from producing educated and skilled individuals. This was done deliberately to create unemployment. There is no encouragement for entrepreneurs. This needs to change. We must build a skilled youth workforce."

The issue of misinformation against the government on social media and in mainstream media was repeatedly raised by the students. Responding, Dr. Yunus said, "It's true that social media voices are often against the government. The government has no official newspaper, only a press wing that issues releases. Some newspapers publish them, some don’t, or they place them in obscure sections. We will not control the media; our policy is to let the press work independently. However, I understand your frustration that the government's work is not reaching the public effectively."

Dr. Yunus further stated, "The entire system has been wrecked—corruption everywhere, and even the banks are dysfunctional. The committee has issued a white paper on the economy, which I believe is a historic document. It should be included in university curriculums. The Awami League is responsible for turning the economy into rubble, but we must also hold accountable those who claimed there was an 'era of development.'"

He added, "It’s difficult to rebuild from the ruins left behind. Everywhere we look, there’s damage. We are cleaning up the mess and facing significant challenges in initiating reforms."

The students expressed full confidence and support for the interim government, pledging maximum cooperation in its reform initiatives. They affirmed that the people stand with the government, emphasizing that this is a government for the people and should complete the necessary reforms.