The electoral process finally begins amid huge expectations

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam sat down with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus for an exclusive interview where he spoke about issues ranging from reforms and election to media and foreign policy.

The meeting of the Advisory Council started at 11:03am with Yunus in the chair

Despite numerous challenges, the interim government over the last 100 days has taken many timely and significant steps that align with the vision of building a “new Bangladesh”, observed Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday.

Prof Yunus’s speech marks 100 days of the interim government

In a televised address to the nation, marking 100 days of the interim government, Yunus said that the reforms may delay the election by a few months

When an interim government was sworn into office following the ouster of the Awami League regime just 100 days ago, there was an air of expectation that the Prof Muhammad Yunus-led administration would take steps to salvage a scam-ridden financial sector and rescue an ailing economy.

Weak law and order, high interest rates on bank loans, and slow bureaucracy remain big concerns for entrepreneurs despite many steps taken by the government in its first 100 days, business leaders said yesterday.

The government should increase its engagement with the country’s private sector in making policies and decisions amid ongoing reforms, according to prominent business leaders, who cited major challenges such as high inflation, rising interest rates and slowing demand and investment that are now plaguing private businesses.

Bangladesh’s interim government (IG) has taken critical steps towards stabilising the country and signalling a new direction.