The Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, spoke with *Insight Daily News* about the dreams of a new Bangladesh, the implementation of those dreams through important reforms in various sectors, the progress of democracy, and the current situation. This interview was conducted by *Insight Daily News* Editor Matiur Rahman and Diplomatic Correspondent Raheed Ejaz on October 2 at the Chief Advisor's office. Today, read the final part.
During the student-people's movement, there were many killings, and everyone is seeking justice. Many are speaking out, and you are among them. There is a call for Sheikh Hasina's trial. She is currently in India, and there is talk about her trial, extradition, and bringing her back. Do you or your government have any thoughts on her trial or extradition?
**Dr. Yunus:** We don't need to be involved in that. We are here to reform the judiciary. If we reform the judiciary, everything—who will be tried, how trials will be conducted, and by whom—will be addressed through that process. We are not going to make political decisions. We are only creating the environment. From there, you can proceed as you wish. You have created the situation, and we are merely facilitating it.
But behind these injustices and crimes, there was a government, a head of government, a cabinet, or leaders, and there have been discussions and demands regarding them...
**Dr. Yunus:** That's why those who are found are being arrested and taken to jail. Everything is happening. We are not conducting the trial yet. First, decide how the trial process will be. Through that trial process, the trials will be conducted.
There has been criticism regarding these arrests and lawsuits. People are questioning how much truth can be proven or how far the trials will go. Doubts have arisen, and some say these cases are fabricated, as they were in the past. Although the government is not filing these cases, this responsibility falls on you. You cannot avoid this responsibility.
**Dr. Yunus:** That's why judicial reform is necessary. It's not enough for me alone to say so. If I were to dictate everything, that wouldn’t be justice. It must be done legally and through the law. But the law is not good, and these laws need to be changed. So, we are approaching this gradually. The judicial process is such that mistakes are being made. When mistakes are pointed out, we try to correct them immediately. Again, if you point out our errors, we will change our decisions.
Meanwhile, there is much unrest in society—hatred and conflict, and 'mob justice' has become prevalent. Several people have died. How will you control this situation of social instability?
**Dr. Yunus:** This is about establishing law and order. These are law and order issues, not political ones. Mob justice and killings are related to law and order. If we strengthen law and order, these things won’t happen. If we increase social awareness and care for each other, these incidents will stop. The government alone can’t stop the violence. We can say that if violence occurs, there will be punishment. We keep emphasizing that we are one family. We may have differences in opinion, but that doesn’t make us enemies. We must keep this clear.
Freedom of expression and media freedom are widely discussed topics. Under the previous government, and even before that, these freedoms were disrupted. We have faced various forms of persecution. How can you assure us that the freedom of the press, the truth, and freedom of expression will continue in the future?
**Dr. Yunus:** After 15 years, you have been able to enter the Prime Minister's office. The previous government did not allow this. This access to the government is like crossing the Himalayas, but now it has been crossed. Now there are no obstacles for you. You can come and go as you please. We have no control over this. I have no authority to decide who *Insight Daily News* can or cannot meet, or who gets advertisements. We do not want that power. Why would we? Write freely. Criticize. If you don’t, how will we know what’s happening and what isn’t? We are not perfect beings. When you speak out, we become more cautious.
There is a question about how long you will remain in power. When will the elections be held? There is talk of one and a half, two, or even three years. Have you had any discussions about setting a time frame?
**Dr. Yunus:** We discuss this among ourselves. Our job is clear: preparing for the election. This work has already begun, so the election preparation will continue alongside the reforms. The two will go hand in hand. It's not a matter of finishing one and starting the other. As election preparation progresses, so will the reforms. The election is being organized to establish these reforms. When we see both election preparation and reform are nearing completion, the question will arise—should we hold the election or continue with the reforms? That will be up to you. We will continue with the preparations, and you will see how much time we spend on each. The timeline will be determined accordingly.
In the meantime, we have developed a significant economic relationship with China. What do you expect from them now?
**Dr. Yunus:** China’s strength and capabilities are continuously growing. They are advancing in scientific and industrial development. We have many opportunities for trade with them. They have resources they don’t need, which we can bring here. Renewable energy is one such opportunity. I have asked the Chinese Foreign Minister to relocate industries here that they can no longer sell in their markets due to U.S. sanctions. We can produce and sell them worldwide. The opportunity for solar energy is increasing, not decreasing.
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