The 18-month chapter of the interim government is coming to an end with the new government taking office on Tuesday, Professor Muhammad Yunus said in his farewell address to the nation . “Now it is my turn to go,” he said on Monday night.
In his speech, he called the national elections held after 17 years “celebratory, participatory and peaceful” and said that these elections will be a benchmark for the future. He praised the combined role of voters, political parties, election-related institutions and law enforcement agencies.
Explaining the context of taking charge, Yunus said that after the coup, the country was practically at a standstill; getting the state machinery going was the first and most difficult task. “I was abroad. I initially did not agree. The student leaders convinced me by talking about the responsibility of the nation,” he said.
Recalling the 18-month journey, he said that the February 12 elections and the referendum on the July Charter were memorable moments in the country’s history. Congratulating both the winners and losers, he said that winning and losing is the beauty of democracy, and the almost equal distribution of votes is proof of the broad trust of the people.