Yunus declares Bangladesh's foreign policy 'no longer submissive' in farewell address
Outgoing interim leader Muhammad Yunus told Bangladeshis Monday that the nation's foreign policy has transformed from subservience to one based on mutual respect and national interest. His farewell comes as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party prepares to assume power following historic elections last week.
In a nationally broadcast address to the country of 176 million, the Nobel laureate declared: "Bangladesh is no longer dependent on a submissive foreign policy or on the instructions and advice of other countries; today's Bangladesh is confident, active and responsible in protecting its independent interests." Yunus emphasized that relations with all nations will now be conducted on terms of equality and national priority.
Eighteen months of transitional leadership
Yunus assumed leadership on August 8, 2024, at the peak of the summer uprising that ended the Awami League's 15-year rule and sent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India. Over 18 months, he guided an interim administration that successfully conducted last week's parliamentary elections, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a two-thirds majority with 209 of 300 seats. The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, is scheduled to take the oath of office Tuesday.
Economic recovery and democratic transition
Reflecting on his tenure, Yunus described Thursday's election as "a prime example of how Bangladesh's elections should be in the future. This vote is not just a transfer of power—it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bangladesh's democratic system… the birth of a new Bangladesh." He contrasted the current economic picture with the inheritance from the previous government, which he accused of embezzling $234 billion and leaving a "huge debt burden." Yunus expressed relief that his administration leaves behind "the foundation of a new economy with a foreign reserve of $34 billion and record remittances."
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Legacy of a global citizen
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, renowned globally for pioneering microfinance through Grameen Bank, steps down having steered Bangladesh through one of its most turbulent political transitions. His emphasis on sovereign foreign policy and economic independence signals a potential reorientation of Bangladesh's international posture. For nations including Türkiye, which has cultivated growing ties with Dhaka in recent years, Yunus's parting message suggests a Bangladesh seeking more balanced partnerships and asserting greater autonomy in its diplomatic engagements.
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