Ties with India should be based on fairness: Yunus

Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh needs good relations with India but “the ties should be built on principles of fairness and equality.”

He emphasised the advancement of ties with neighbours on the basis of mutual respect, stressing the measures to be undertaken for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC.

The interim prime minister made the remarks at a meeting with student representatives from various universities and colleges at the Chief Advisor's Office, or CAO, in Dhaka’s Tejgaon on Sunday.

Mahfuz Alam, special assistant to the chief advisor, later briefed the media on Yunus’s discussions with the students at the Foreign Service Academy.

He said, “Yunus stated the current government’s stance on India-Bangladesh bilateral ties in response to a question from the students. The chief advisor also said he would try to revive SAARC.”

The view-exchange meeting was held marking the one-month anniversary of the interim government.

The Sheikh Hasina-led government was unseated by a massive movement on Aug 5. The Awami League chief resigned and later flew to India.

The Yunus-led government took the oath of office eight days after the incident on Aug 8.

Stating the backdrop, Mahfuz said: "The students have expressed their views. The chief advisor spoke about reform efforts initiated by his government. Other advisors to the government also aired their opinion.

Around 150 students from different educational institutions in Dhaka and its fringes took part in the event.

Apart from the coordinators, those who led the movement in different places also joined it. The chief advisor urged the students to come up with their views at least once a month.

When asked about the conversation over the ban on student politics in educational institutions, the special assistant said, “Various talks are being held over the politics of the students and the teachers at various campuses in the country. The government will make its stance clear on the matter after hearing everyone’s opinion.

“But we are committed to preventing the return of the brand of politics pursued by the Awami League and Chhatra League on the campus.”

The formation of a foundation in memory of the victims in the recent anti-government movement is under way, Mahfuz quoted Yunus as saying.

“It will ensure rehabilitation of the victims’ families and their state-provided benefits and honour.”