Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has said the nation is united on the issue of trial for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
Yunus was addressing a seminar on judicial independence and capacity, held at the InterContinental Dhaka in Dhaka on Sunday, where he was present as the chief guest.
“The International Crimes Tribunal is working entirely independently, without any bias, and proceeding at its own pace. It is our responsibility to move this trial process forward without delay. I assure you, I will remain steadfast in this responsibility,” he said.
“This is a historic moment for us,” Yunus said. “We will soon mark the one-year anniversary of the July uprising. Our young generation expressed their hopes through blood, and it is our responsibility to realize their dream of building a new Bangladesh. All of this is possible only if we begin in the right direction. The July uprising has given us that opportunity—an opportunity that will not come again. We must not let it slip away.”
He added: “The people of Bangladesh are going through a complicated situation. The July uprising, achieved through the sacrifices of thousands, stands as proof of our unity. This awakening came at the cost of thousands of lives, and thousands more were injured. Those of us who are still alive now carry certain responsibilities. That responsibility will only be fulfilled when justice is ensured for the crimes against humanity committed in July.”
He further said: “We must remember that the July uprising was not about a mere change of power. It was fuelled by a deep yearning to dismantle the entrenched dominance and bias stretching from villages to cities. Our revolution aims to establish justice, freedom, equality, and dignity through all our actions. The uprising sought to break the old order and reveal a state where no single party could ever become desperate or authoritarian. That hope and inspiration give us satisfaction as we engage in the hard work of rebuilding.”
“As stakeholders in the ongoing reform process, we are doing what is expected of us. When we speak of reform, we are not talking about something minor that might be lost under the weight of time or pressure. We are talking about changes that have not been made in the past 54 years. We speak of transformations that will build a strong democracy. The reforms entrusted to us will dismantle authoritarianism,” the chief adviser said.
