Relationship with India balanced on basis of mutual respect: Press Wing

The Chief Adviser's Office has stated that relations with India have become balanced during the tenure of the interim government. It was also informed that while 16 years of damage cannot be repaired in 18 months, the country has firmly moved away from autocratic behaviour and systems and is now progressing towards a democratic future.

This information was provided in a statement from the Chief Adviser's Office on Monday.

The statement said that on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh entered a new chapter led by the younger generation who took to the streets against fascism.

After 16 years of oppression, an interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus was formed through the July mass uprising to overcome the crisis. At that time, the state was plagued by economic disaster and institutional weakness. Government institutions had collapsed due to long-term corruption and misrule. The banking sector was devastated by looting and money laundering.

There was no public trust in law enforcement agencies. There was also distrust in the judiciary. In this context, the interim government formed various reform commissions with experts and, based on their recommendations as well as its own initiatives, began realistic legal and institutional reform programmes—aimed at rebuilding the state and re-establishing democratic foundations.

Highlighting various activities of the interim government, the Press Wing informed that over the past 18 months since assuming office, it has formulated approximately 130 laws (new and amended) and issued more than 600 executive orders, which were urgent for institutional reform. About 84 percent of these have already been implemented.

Significant progress has also been made in the economy and foreign relations. An economic partnership agreement with Japan has granted duty-free benefits to approximately 7,400 Bangladeshi products. Cooperation with China has resulted in extended loan terms, healthcare infrastructure development and improved flood forecasting systems. Discussions with the USA have reduced tariff rates from 37 percent to 20 percent.

Diplomatic relations with important countries have been strengthened, and relations with India have become balanced on the basis of mutual respect.

Banking supervision has been strengthened. Transparency in procurement processes in 42 ministries has been increased, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has been given independence in publishing data.

As part of reforms in law enforcement agencies, over 1,200 officers have been temporarily suspended, and human rights-based training has been introduced.

The Rapid Action Battalion has been restructured and renamed as the 'Special Intervention Force'. Judicial independence has been re-established, merit-based appointments of judges have been made, and executive interference has ended. Media freedom has also returned through the withdrawal of political cases against journalists and the reopening of closed media outlets.

Through these reforms, only the beginning of a citizen-friendly framework has been initiated. While 16 years of damage cannot be repaired in 18 months, the country has firmly moved away from autocratic behaviour and systems and is now progressing towards a democratic future.