Bangladesh protesters expect interim government to be finalised on Wednesday

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00Even with barricades yet to be dismantled and ash still smouldering in the streets of Dhaka,

00:07Bangladesh is seeking to move on from political upheaval and bloodshed.

00:12Early Wednesday, Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus

00:15was officially named chief advisor of the interim government

00:19after he was specifically requested by leaders of the protest movement

00:23that helped drive Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.

00:27The mass uprising initially sparked over a quota system for government jobs

00:32but grew into a broader challenge to Hasina's 15-year rule.

00:36Clashes have left hundreds of people dead in the country's worst violence

00:40since independence from Pakistan in 1971.

00:44Restoring order is set to be the first priority for Yunus

00:48and locals are clear about their expectations.

00:53We need peace, that's it.

00:55We are poor working class people who are daily wage earners.

00:58We just want to live in peace.

01:02I expect the new government will run the country with honesty.

01:07Therefore the people can live and sleep in peace.

01:13Yunus will also need to define the role of the interim government

01:17and decide when the country can hold new elections.

01:21Beyond that, he's expected to tackle unemployment, stamp out corruption,

01:25ensure press freedom and put an end to politically motivated arrests.

01:29It's hoped the interim government can more evenly share out the wealth

01:33the country has earned with the expansion of its garment industry.

01:37Demonstrators also want the military to have a limited role

01:40during this transition period.

01:42The army wields significant influence in Bangladesh,

01:45which has seen more than 20 coups or coup attempts since independence.

Category

Transcript

Recommended