File picture of Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim authorities
| Picture Credit score: AP
Outgoing interim authorities chief Muhammad Yunus on Monday (February 16, 2026) mentioned his 18-month rule restored three core pillars of Bangladesh’s exterior engagement – “sovereignty, nationwide pursuits, and dignity”, and it’s not a “submissive” nation.
In his farewell handle to the nation, Mr. Yunus mentioned that on the finish of his regime’s rule, “At this time’s Bangladesh is assured, energetic, and accountable in defending its unbiased pursuits”.
“Bangladesh is not a rustic with a submissive overseas coverage or depending on the directions and recommendation of different nations,” he mentioned within the televised handle a day forward of quitting energy.
He emphasised that his 18-month tenure had rebuilt the three “elementary foundations” of the nation’s overseas engagement: “sovereignty, nationwide pursuits, and dignity”.
Mr. Yunus’ interim regime started in August 2024 and is about to conclude its unscheduled time period with the swearing-in of a brand new authorities led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), which gained a two-thirds majority usually elections 4 days in the past.
BNP, led by its chairman Tarique Rahman, bagged a whopping 209 out of 297 seats within the essential thirteenth Parliamentary elections held on February 12.
“I name upon everybody, no matter social gathering, creed, faith, caste and gender, to proceed the battle to construct a simply, humane, and democratic Bangladesh. With this enchantment, I bid farewell with nice optimism,” Mr. Yunus mentioned.
Mr. Yunus, who ran the nation because the outgoing regime’s chief adviser, successfully the prime minister, mentioned Bangladesh’s open sea was its nice “strategic asset”, creating large financial alternatives within the area for the South Asian nation.
He emphasised the huge development potential of broader regional cooperation encompassing Nepal, Bhutan, and “northeastern India”.
“Our open sea will not be merely a geographical boundary; it’s a gateway to the worldwide financial system,” he mentioned, including that connectivity was central to the nation’s subsequent section of improvement.
Mr. Yunus mentioned that his administration exhausted its efforts to “guarantee democratic rights and values” and formulated some 130 new legal guidelines, amended different legal guidelines, and issued 600 government orders, about 84 per cent of which have been carried out.
He mentioned that worldwide port administration corporations, towards which employees waged large protests, and which critics mentioned have been towards Bangladeshi pursuits, would increase the effectivity of the services to international requirements.
“We’ve come a great distance in signing agreements with main worldwide port administration corporations to carry our ports’ effectivity as much as worldwide requirements. If we can not enhance effectivity, we are going to lag behind in financial achievements,” he mentioned.
Earlier within the day, Mr. Yunus met with senior bureaucrats and took part in a photograph session with all these serving at his workplace.
Bangladesh’s Chief of Military Employees Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman additionally paid a farewell go to to him. Mr. Yunus thanked the Military chief for the cooperation of the armed forces through the normal election.
On Sunday (February 15, 2026), Mr. Yunus held the final assembly of his advisory council or cupboard. Below Mr. Yunus’s tenure, Dhaka’s relations with New Delhi witnessed a major downturn.
India has been expressing considerations over assaults on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.
Printed – February 17, 2026 01:57 am IST