Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina destroyed almost all the institutions and economy of the country during her 15 years of unilateral rule.
He came up with the remarks in an exclusive interview with Germany-based broadcaster DW.   
The Nobel laureate took over as the interim leader of Bangladesh last month after violent political unrest led to an unceremonious end to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
He addressed an array of issues, including the domestic political situation, Bangladesh’s relations with India and the influx of Rohingyas into the country.
Prof Yunus also spoke about the challenges he is facing in his new role and the reforms he is planning to implement before holding a general election.
The 84-year-old leader said Hasina “destroyed almost all institutions” and “the economy was shattered.”
“You do not know where to begin because everything has to be restarted in a different way,” he said, adding that his interim administration wants to “establish citizens’ rights, human rights, democracy and everything that goes with good governance.”
He also hinted at amending the constitution. “We should be focusing on the major issues of the constitution and building a consensus. We cannot do anything without a consensus because our strength comes from the consensus. If we can establish a consensus, we’ll go ahead and do that.”
Hasina’s corrupt practices shattered economy
During the interview, Prof Yunus also accused Hasina’s administration of corruption, which he said, shattered the nation’s economy.
“Money syphoned off from Bangladesh, through government channels to bank channels and so on. Contracts were signed not for the benefit of the people but for the benefit of a family or family members, and something like that. So, those ugly things that you see when a government goes in the wrong direction, things happen, terrible things happen in the economy and so on,” he said.
Bangladesh’s $450-billion (€412-billion) economy has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when it comes to creating enough, decent-paying jobs for its vast youth population.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has also sharply increased the cost of fuel and food imports, causing the South Asian nation’s foreign exchange reserves to shrink.
Dhaka was forced to seek financial support from the International Monetary Fund last year in the form of a $4.7-billion bailout.
The Prof Yunus-led interim administration is currently urging international lenders to offer it $5 billion in financial aid to stabilise its dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
Dhaka has no option but to maintain good ties with Delhi
Referring to Bangladesh’s relations with India, which shared close ties with Hasina’s administration, the chief adviser said Dhaka has no option but to maintain good ties with New Delhi.
“Bangladesh must have the best relationship with India, out of its own necessity and out of its own acquaintances, and the similarity of the things that we do together. We share each other’s history. So there is no escape route for Bangladesh to do something else,” he said.
After the student protests turned into a mass uprising against her, Hasina fled to India in a military helicopter on 5 August.
New Delhi has not provided details on Hasina’s location, though she is believed to be sheltering in a safe house.
The interim government in Dhaka has already revoked Hasina’s diplomatic passport, and more and more voices in Bangladesh, including its top prosecutors, are demanding her extradition.
Rohingya influx ‘creates problem for us’
Prof Yunus also briefly touched upon Dhaka’s policy towards the Rohingya people. “The Rohingyas are trickling in as trouble begins in Rakhine,” he said, referring to the armed conflict in Myanmar’s western province that shares a long border with Bangladesh.
At least 18,000 Rohingyas have reportedly crossed over in recent months to escape the escalating violence in Rakhine.