Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has said he is working to build a Bangladesh where the rights of every citizen are fully protected and equal.
Speaking during a visit to Dhakeshwari National Temple on Saturday, Dr Yunus stressed that this vision must be turned into reality, not just remain in words.
He said: "We want to build a Bangladesh where all citizens have equal rights, and we must ensure this. Simply writing about it in books is not enough. We don’t want a Bangladesh where we fight and seize rights and then get praised for it."
He added: "This is not the society that students and people gave their lives for. They have embarked on this journey with the dream of creating a new Bangladesh, and we want to make this dream a reality, not just keep it limited to words."
During the visit, Yunus exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community celebrating Durga Puja and reflected on the efforts made to ensure peaceful festivities across the country.
Regarding extending holidays for Durga Puja, the chief adviser said: "This time, Durga Puja has turned into a special joy for everyone across the country. It’s even more joyous because the festivities are taking place everywhere without any incidents."
Mentioning how the country could celebrate a glorious Durga Puja together, he said: "The government was greatly supported by its institutions—police, army, RAB, BGB, and other law enforcement forces. They all performed their duties with great sincerity."
Dr Yunus emphasized: "We must remind ourselves that relying on the army, police, and RAB to organize our festivals is a failure on our part. This is not normal. We have accepted this failure for now, but we must acknowledge that we couldn’t create a society where everyone can celebrate together without leaving anyone behind. This is the kind of society we aspire to."
He further said: "In any part of society, when there is a festival, we should all participate together. The rest of the community should help make sure they can celebrate freely and joyfully. But we are unable to achieve this, which is why the students and workers have given us the opportunity to dream of building a new Bangladesh through their uprising."
The chief adviser added: "This time, we had to rely on the peace-keeping forces for the Puja celebrations, but we must work together to ensure this isn’t needed in the future."
Talking about reforms, he mentioned: "Reforms encompass everything. We need to break free from whatever we dislike in society. Your children should be able to walk on the streets with full rights, interact with people, and attend any event. Your children deserve the same rights as the children of any other citizen."
He reflected on past days when there was uncertainty about whether children would return home safely, and this was not just limited to the children of Hindus but also Muslims. "We don’t want that kind of society anymore. We want a society where everyone can move around the country with equal dignity."
Dr Yunus also said "In this new Bangladesh, we must identify what new elements we need and work to establish them. We have set up several commissions, but they cannot change the country on their own. Their purpose is to gather our collective dreams. Because of the students’ uprising, we now have a grand vision. There will be a framework for this vision. We talk about amending the constitution, reforming the election commission, and many other things."
He added: "We have been oppressed. Through this uprising, we have emerged from a society where all rights were concentrated in the hands of a small group, and the rest of the people had no rights. We were all deprived of our rights. This uprising changed that overnight. The students freed the country from those who had taken away all rights, and now these rights must be extended to everyone."
He called on everyone to be ready for a new Bangladesh, saying: "Raise your voice loudly without fear. You are a citizen of this country. Speak fearlessly and seize this opportunity. Once we achieve this, we will be able to celebrate any festival, like Durga Puja, without waiting for special assistance."
The chief adviser acknowledged that it was a difficult task, saying: "But everyone worked together, and this is what made it successful. Because of their efforts, we are able to enjoy the holiday. We thank them."
He ended by saying: "Today, we are forced to rely on the army, police, and RAB for Durga Puja, and we thank them for their help. But soon, we will build a country where they, too, can enjoy the holidays. We will no longer have to rely on their sacrifice to celebrate. We will be free from this guilt, and as citizens, we will celebrate our festivals without hindrance. This is the dream we can achieve—a country where the people can be proud in front of the world."
