Highlighting the importance of education system's reform, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the country's education system must foster creativity to create a generation of entrepreneurs in the country. "We should reform the education system in a way that it creates a generation of entrepreneurs. We need education, which helps students become creative people. Our young people must fulfil their creative potentials," the Chief Adviser said when he visited the Education Ministry at the Secretariat. He said humans are born entrepreneurs. "Yet, our education system creates job seekers. It is a flawed education system." The Chief Adviser chaired his first Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat and later visited the Education Ministry. Prof Yunus said Bangladesh should not create an education system that emphasises only test scores. "The perception that test score is everything must go," he said. The Chief Adviser also called for narrowing generational gaps in Bangladeshi society, saying the country must understand the language of the new generation—their aspirations and their thought process. "We must understand the language and the thought process of the youth. We need to know how the older generation can share their experience with the younger generation," he said. "The distance between young and old generations gets bigger; it will create troubles. We must minimise the idea gaps between generations," the chief adviser said.," the chief adviser said. He also stressed the need for fostering family values in our national curricula. Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Education Secretary Siddiq Jobaer were present during the Chief Adviser's meeting with senior education ministry officials.    

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that the tenure of the interim government will be less than four years, and their intention is to hold the election as quickly as possible. "I didn't say that I will be (in power) for four years. This is the maximum term. But that's not our intention. Our intention is to get it (hold polls) done as quickly as possible," he said while responding to a question during an interview with Qatar-based media Al Jazeera. Prof Yunus said the exact timeframe for the interim government's tenure has not been determined yet. He said the regular government is for five years and the new Constitution may say four years, probably. "It should be under four years, that's for sure. It may be less," Prof Yunus said. 27 envoys of European countries to meet Prof Yunus soon in Dhaka The chief adviser said it is all about what people and political parties want. "If political parties say forget about it (reform), give the election, we will do it," Prof Yunus said. Asked if he plans to stand for election, Yunus said, "I am not a politician. I enjoy my role and what I have been doing. In my last stage of my life, I am not going to change that." In the interview, Dr Yunus acknowledged the challenges ahead. “Bangladesh is deep in corruption because of the system that we had for the past 15 years – mismanagement, misgovernance, the destruction of our institutions,” he said, adding that rebuilding the system “point by point, sector by sector” will be a “big task”. Highlighting the important reforms before the next national elections, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday pledged that they will hold the desired elections on completion of some necessary reforms. Reforms aimed at ensuring ‘free, fair’ elections: Dr Yunus tells UK Minister “I am not sure how much opportunity we will get to implement the reform proposals. But I am giving you a word, if you give us a scope, we will hold your desired elections after completing some necessary reforms. Till then, I request you to be patient,” he said in a televised address to the nation in the evening, marking the completion of 100 days of the interim government. The Election Commission will be formed in a few days, the chief adviser said, adding that all the responsibility of organising the elections will fall on the Election Commission once it is formed. Mentioning that the question of when the elections will be held is on everyone's mind, Prof Yunus said they want to create an electoral system that will be followed for ages in the country and it will help save the country from any political crisis. “For this, I am seeking the necessary time from you. Once the decision on electoral reforms is made, you will also get the election roadmap very soon,” said the Nobel Laureate who took oath as the chief adviser on August 8.

Speaking at the international geopolitical conference, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said they live in times marked by "challenges and complexities" globally and laid emphasis on working together to address those challenges. "We know that when we come together, when we work as one, we have the power to change the course of history. This convention is about exactly that—the power of unity, the strength of shared purpose," he said while delivering his inaugural speech at the international conference. Prof Yunus laid emphasis on building an economy where fruits of technology and economic growth are shared evenly by all people, not monopolised by the privileged few. "I am always a compulsive optimist. I always believe in the power of ideas, and power of imagination. If we can imagine together it becomes irresistible. Let's do it," he said. Prof Yunus calls for mobilising "intellectual, financial, youth power" for a new civilisation  

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday said his country is keen to deepen ties with Bangladesh and take the bilateral relationship to a new height, hoping that Bangladesh will grow and prosper under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. "Your task is very challenging. But I know you are the one who can surmount the challenge," President Aliyev said when he met Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the COP29 global climate conference in the Azerbaijan capital Baku. He congratulated Prof Yunus for assuming the leadership of the interim government and said Bangladesh will grow and prosper under his (Prof Yunus) leadership. Prof Yunus is scheduled to return home on Thursday night, an official told UNB. The Azerbaijan President said a high-level team of the Azerbaijan government will visit Bangladesh early next year to sign a comprehensive arrangement deal with Bangladesh. He said his country is keen to invest in Bangladesh and is exploring the possibility of opening an embassy in Dhaka as both nations see increasing opportunities for trade, commerce, and international cooperation. Read: ‘Pay up or humanity will pay the price’, Guterres warns at COP29 climate summit

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said Bangladesh Navy and Air Force have once again been recognised as symbols of trust by the people of the country. He said Bangladesh Navy and Air Force have stood by the people of the country at the critical juncture of the country. The Chief Adviser inaugurated the Bangladesh ‘Navy and Air Force Selection Board-2024' at the Air Force Headquarters. In this promotion board, eligible officers holding the ranks of Captain, Commander and Lieutenant Commander of the Bangladesh Navy and Group Captain, Wing Commander and Squadron Leader of the Air Force will be considered for further promotion. Rohingya Crisis: Prof Yunus seeks urgent int’l conf to find solution Prof Yunus said the officers with honesty and principle and other leadership qualities deserve the promotion. The Chief Adviser directed to select the officers for promotion who have been successful in providing competent leadership in various activities of military life. Prof Yunus welcomed everyone in Bangladesh created by the student-people's revolution. He remembered all the martyrs with deep respect who sacrificed their lives during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July-August. Prof Yunus also recalled all the brave soldiers, including the martyrs of the armed forces who participated in the great War of Independence, whose sacrifice the nation will forever remember with respect. Army Chief calls on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus The Chief Adviser instructed the members of the Selection Board to emphasise the professional skills, leadership qualities, standards of discipline, honesty, trustworthiness and loyalty and above all, suitability for employment of the officers for promotion. Upon arrival at the programme venue, the Chief Adviser was welcomed by Chief of Bangladesh Navy Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, according to the ISPR press release. The chiefs of the Navy and Air Force expressed their gratitude and thanks to the Chief Adviser for coming to inaugurate the Board despite his busy schedule. The ceremony was attended by senior officers of the Navy and Air Force, the Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Defense, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division and the Defense Secretary. Prof Yunus for creating "safe zone guaranteed by UN" for displaced people in Rakhine At the end of the ceremony, the Chief Adviser participated in a photograph with the senior officers of the Navy and Air Force present and recorded his comments in the visitor’s book. He later planted a sapling in the premises of the Air Force Headquarters.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has called for an “urgent attention” to the Rohingya crisis, including convening an international conference, to find a sustainable solution to the crisis and ensuring “safe and dignified” return of the Rohingya people to Myanmar. “We cannot ignore the people who continue to be persecuted, uprooted and subjected to gross violations of human rights in the Rakhine State (Myanmar) or Gaza. No person, regardless of their number or identity, is expandable,” he said in a message marking the United Nations Day being observed on October 24. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char with the new arrivals of 40,000 Rohingyas recently. United Nations Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. Prof Yunus seeks increased Turkish investment as Dhaka ready for business Prof Yunus called for reforming the UN to make it more inclusive, transparent and responsive to deliver to the aspirations of all people in an evolving global landscape. He said Bangladesh calls for decisive UN action to protect the civilian children, women and men; and dialogue towards securing peace in Gaza and Lebanon and the wider region. “On this Day, Bangladesh renews its commitment to work with the international community to build a more just, peaceful, and equitable world, in our 'shared interests'. Together, we must redeem our pledge to realize dignity and rights for everyone,” said the Nobel laureate who is heading the interim government of Bangladesh. On this United Nations Day, on behalf of the people of Bangladesh, he extended their cordial felicitations to all women and men of the United Nations family the world over and reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter. For eight decades now, Prof Yunus said, the United Nations has been fostering peace, safeguarding human rights, and promoting sustainable development. Govt committed to identifying , solving children's issues for their healthy growth: Prof Yunus In a time marked by unprecedented challenges-- climate change, conflicts, inequalities -- the delivering on the UN's mandate is more critical than ever. “Emerging issues like responsible use of AI as also ensuring beneficial access to technologies across nations, call for enhanced role of the UN system in ensuring peace, stability and harmony, for all,” he said. Prof Yunus said Bangladesh draws satisfaction over its active partnership with the UN system, particularly as the third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations. “Our commitment to peace, justice, and equality remains rooted in our national ethos, as seen in our people's ongoing quest for justice, most recently demonstrated in the People's Revolution led by our students and youth,” he said. As a people, Prof Yunus said, they remain firmly committed to multilateralism. “Be it sustainable development or trade or addressing the climate crisis, vulnerable countries like Bangladesh and the global South need a rule-based multilateral system,” he added.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus congratulated Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese atomic bomb survivors' group, on its winning of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024. "Congratulations to Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024. Your unwavering commitment to nuclear disarmament and peace is an inspiration to us all," Prof Yunus said in a message. Prof Yunus, also Nobel Peace Laureate, said: "Your advocacy and tireless efforts to ensure that the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are never forgotten resonate deeply in our quest for a safer world". Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Japanese organization of atomic bombing survivors Nihon Hidankyo "Thank you for your courage and dedication. Warmest congratulations once again," the message read. Nihon Hidankyo has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its dedication to creating a world free from nuclear weapons.    

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's press wing has clarified that his recent remarks on "pressing the reset button" in an interview with Voice of America is being misinterpreted by some people.  "He (Prof Yunus) did not mean wiping out Bangladesh's proud history," chief adviser's press wing said in a statement on Thursday. When the Chief Adviser Prof Yunus spoke about pressing the reset button, he meant making a new start from corrupt politics, which destroyed all Bangladesh's key institutions, pushed the economy to the brink of collapse and robbed the rights to vote and civil liberties of tens of millions of people, said the press wing. Dr Yunus praises Russian cooperation in power, energy sectors "When you press the reset button, you reset the software to start all over again. It doesn’t change the hardware. The 1971 Liberation War created the hardware of Bangladesh," said the statement. When he arrived in Dhaka on August 8 to take over as the chief adviser of the interim government, Prof Yunus told reporters at the Hazrat Shahjalal Airport that July-August student-led mass uprising was their "Second Liberation" -- the first liberation being the country's glorious war of independence in 1971. Prof Yunus was an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University when the independence of Bangladesh was proclaimed. Dr Yunus among world's most influential Muslims in 2024 "He formed the Bangladesh Citizens Committee immediately after the independence of Bangladesh was announced and launched a US-wide campaign to persuade the US government to recognize Bangladesh," the statement reads. Prof Yunus published  the Bangladesh Newsletter to inform the world about the genocide in Bangladesh perpetrated by the Pakistani army, according to the press wing statement.

Extending his greetings to the country’s all members of the Hindu community, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. "Durga Puja is not only a festival of the Hindu community… it has now become a festival for all. The destruction of evil forces and the worship of truth and beauty are the main features of the festival," he said in a message on the occasion of Durga Puja, the main religious festival of the Hindu community. Prof Yunus said the constitution of the country guarantees equal rights to the people of all religions and castes.  "This country belongs to all of us. This country is a safe home to all irrespective of caste and religion," said the Chief Adviser. He said the interim government formed by the unprecedented uprising of students-workers-masses on August 5 is working to improve the wellbeing of all and ensure equal rights regardless of caste and religion. Dr. Yunus declares Bangladesh ‘liberated’ after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation Prof Yunus, encouraged by the anti-discrimination spirit, called upon all to build a Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and build a country of happiness, keeping the bonds of communal harmony unharmed. He wished for peace, wellbeing and prosperity of all the citizens of Bangladesh. The government has said that law enforcement agencies are sincerely focusing on the security concerns shared by the Hindu community. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir on Tuesday evening said that all Puja mandaps across the country will be monitored through IP cameras with adequate patrolling by the police, Rab and intelligence agencies. The government has already announced an additional public holiday on Thursday (October 10) for Durga Puja. The Durga Puja holiday will now last four days, starting from Thursday. Extensive security measures taken for peaceful Durga Puja celebration: DMP Chief This extension comes as Friday and Saturday are already government holidays this month. "This extra holiday has been granted to ensure smooth and joyous celebrations of the Durga Puja," Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Mahfuj Alam said while talking to reporters at the Dhakeshwari Temple on Tuesday morning.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the interim government, formed through a mass uprising of students-labourers-people, is firmly committed to identifying and solving the issues like negligence to children, child labour, malnutrition and child marriage that hinder the proper development of children. "If the children grow up with the spirit of love, compassion and free thinking, they will be able to play a positive role in building the future Bangladesh," he said, adding that today's children will become tomorrow's artists, writers, philosophers, economists, scientists, doctors and engineers. Prof Yunus made the remarks in a message marking the World Children's Day-2024 that is being observed on October 7. In 2024, World Children's Day calls on adults to listen to the future. "By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today," said UNESCO. Read: 105 children killed in July-Aug uprising: Adviser Sharmin Murshid On the occasion of the celebration of World Children's Day 2024' in Bangladesh, Prof Yunus expressed love and affection to all the children of the world including Bangladesh. At the dawn of the construction of a new Bangladesh, the importance of observing the World Children's Day has reached a new level, he said. "Children are the architects of prosperous Bangladesh. It is the responsibility of all of us to give importance to proper development of children to build Bangladesh anew," Prof Yunus said. Therefore, he said, there is no alternative to proper environment, education, safety, nutrition and healthy entertainment in the physical, mental and cultural development of children. Prof Yunus hoped that the programmes undertaken to celebrate 'World Children's Day 2024' will contribute to the overall development of children. Read more: 70% of children in Bangladesh face discrimination, says Kochi Konther Asar "May all the children of the world, including Bangladesh, grow up in safe and loving care - this is my hope today. I wish World Children's Day and Children's Rights Week 2024 a success," he said.