‘Ties With India Important’: Economist Tipped To Be Part Of Interim Govt Says Bangladesh

Hossain Zillur Rahman, a possible member of the new interim government set to take over the governance of a restive Bangladesh, stressed the importance of Dhaka-New Delhi relations and said they want overall stability in the country and the region.

In a conversation with CNN-News18, an Economist, Dr Rahman threw some light on what triggered nationwide protests in Bangladesh and what will be the next steps of the interim government. With Bangladesh descending into chaos, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country on Monday and landed in India on Monday as the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.

Dr Rahman, a leading policy voice of Bangladesh with over three decades of experience within and outside the government, stated that student protests started with “economic grievance”. “Corrupt practices ruined the country,” he said.

Hasina’s legacy has to be determined, Dr Rahman further said, adding that Bangladesh “needs to look ahead”.

“I am out of the country when I am back I will do deliberations with stakeholders,” Dr Rahman added.

Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a broadcast to the nation on Monday that Hasina had resigned and the military would form a caretaker government.

“The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence,” said Waker, dressed in military fatigues, shortly after jubilant crowds stormed and looted Ganabhaban, the Bangladesh prime minister’s official residence.

Eminent jurists, a former chief justice, a former UN representative and economist, a former governor of the nation’s central bank and a Dhaka University professor are among the 29 people who have been summoned by the army to discuss the formation of the interim government.

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