Commenting that the shorter the term of the interim government, the better, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that reforms are needed before a new government is elected through elections after the ouster of dictator Sheikh Hasina.

Dr. Yunus said this in an interview with news agency AFP on Wednesday (November 13) on the sidelines of the COP29 conference in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

The pace of reforms, said Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Dr. Yunus, will determine how soon elections will be held. However, Dr. Yunus insisted that he would lead the country towards a democratic election.

Dr. Yunus said, "This is a promise that we have made. The elections will be held as soon as we are ready. And the elected people will be able to take power and run the country."

He said that, in addition to the possible constitutional reforms of the country, the country needs an urgent consensus on the structure of the government, the national parliament and the electoral rules. We are an interim government. Therefore, the term of the interim government should be as short as possible, he said.

Sheikh Hasina was overthrown on August 5 in a student-led mass uprising. Then Dr. Yunus's name was announced as the chief adviser to lead the interim government.

Initially, millions of people protested demanding a reform of the quota system in government jobs. Later, it turned into a nationwide mass movement demanding an end to Sheikh Hasina's 15-year harsh rule.

On August 5, Sheikh Hasina fled to India by helicopter. Earlier, more than 700 people were killed, many of whom lost their lives in brutal police repression.

Bangladesh has been going through an unstable situation since Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power. There have been widespread human rights violations during her rule. These include the mass arrests and extrajudicial killings of his political opponents.

Dr. Yunus said, "Any government would be concerned about stability. We are too. We hope that we can resolve this and maintain a peaceful law and order," he added.

The Nobel laureate economist said that it has only been three months since the revolution.

Bangladesh, a country of about 17 crore people, is going through a difficult financial situation. Earlier this month, Indian conglomerate Adani cut power supply in Bangladesh by half, demanding payment of about 85 crore US dollars in unpaid bills.

For the first time, a direct maritime connection has been established between Pakistan and Bangladesh. On Monday (November 11), a cargo ship left Pakistan's Karachi port for Indonesia via Chattogram port. The ship was the first ship to dock directly in Chattogram from Karachi.

Chattogram port sources said that the Panama-flagged ship is named Wan Jiang Fa Zhan. The ship from Karachi had 370 single container goods. The ship's local agent in Bangladesh is a company owned by former minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

A press release from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka confirmed the matter on Wednesday (November 13). It said, "A cargo ship directly from Karachi arrived at Chattogram port, which was the first direct maritime connection between the two countries." This journey highlights the growing demand for direct trade between the two countries.’

Pakistan High Commissioner Syed Ahmed Maruf is hopeful that bilateral trade and business relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh will increase through this. He said, ‘The direct shipping route will increase bilateral trade and business relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is also a major step in increasing the integrated and commercial network in the region. This initiative will not only accelerate the existing trade flow, but also create new business opportunities for both sides, from small traders to large exporters.’

The ship called at multiple ports on its way via Dubai, said Chattogram Port Secretary Md. Omar Farooq, adding that the ship also called at Pakistan’s Karachi port before arriving at Chattogram Port. The ship left for Indonesia on Tuesday (November 12).

Businessmen believe that if a regular sea route is ensured with Pakistan, there will be opportunities for business benefits. They said that Bangladesh will benefit financially if various food products including rice, onions, fruits, and even raw materials for clothing can be brought directly instead of through different channels. The export of many products including jute will also be accelerated. That is why everyone must be sincere about keeping this new route normal because any kind of narrowness also narrows the path to benefiting from international trade.

The High Court has declared the provision of indemnity in Section 9 of the Quick Rental (Special Provisions) Act, 2010, illegal. Earlier, the High Court had fixed the verdict for Thursday, November 7, after hearing the rule seeking to know why the act should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

On Thursday (November 14), the High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury gave the verdict after holding the final hearing on the writ filed challenging the indemnity provision.

The work done under this act cannot be questioned in any court and the rule issued on the issue of the minister's sole decision to enter into an agreement was declared appropriate. Now the government can reconsider the agreement with the rental-based power plants if it wants.

Dr. Shahdeen Malik filed the writ in the court. Barrister Cynthia Farid was with him.

According to Sections 9 and 6 (2) of the Electricity and Energy Rapid Supply Increase (Special Provisions) Act-2010, no application or case can be filed in court to question any activity of rental and quick rental power plants. After the initial hearing on the writ filed challenging these two sections, the High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice AKM Rabiul Hasan issued the rule on Monday, September 2. The High Court gave its verdict today after the final hearing on this rule.

The writ stated that the government is being forced to repeatedly increase electricity prices due to abnormal costs and irregularities in rental and quick rental power plants. However, the law has been made to legalize those irregularities. No trial can be sought for these irregularities in the future - it is against the public interest and is in conflict with the Constitution.

After issuance of the rule, Dr. Shahdin Malik told reporters that the 'Electricity and Energy Rapid Supply Increase (Special Provisions) Act-2010' is commonly known as the Quick Rental Act. I have challenged the constitutional validity of Sub-section (2) of Section 6 and Section 9 of the Act.

Section 6 states that the Minister of Energy can, at his sole discretion, negotiate with any individual or company and sign a contract for the production of electricity with them. Here, the Minister has been given the power to sign a contract with whomever he wants, for as much money as he wants, at his sole discretion.

And Section 9 of the Act stated that questions regarding who has been given the contract and how much money the contract is being made cannot be taken to court.

Stating that both sections are violations of the Constitution, the lawyer alleged that due to the misuse of the two sections, thousands of crores of taka of the state were wasted in the name of Quick Rental's power plant during the tenure of the previous government.

Geneva Camp (Bihari Camp) in Mohammadpur, the capital. Geneva Camp is known as the largest camp among the 115 Urdu-speaking camps trapped during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The Geneva Camp, spread over an area of just 15 acres, has more than 55,000 residents. Most of them are involved in various crimes, including drugs. The residents of the camp have become a threat to the security of Mohammadpur and the surrounding areas. Clashes often occur in Geneva Camp for various reasons, including dominance.

After the fall of the Awami League government, 7 people, including children, have been killed in clashes and shootings centered on drugs and dominance. In addition, 8 people, including two children, have been killed in clashes between drug dealers this year. More than a hundred have been injured.

It is alleged that drug dealers from Geneva Camp looted the Mohammadpur and Adabor police stations after fleeing the police station on August 5 after the news of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. As a result, they are now often involved in clashes to establish dominance with police weapons and bullets. This is killing innocent residents, including children.

It has been learned from talking to residents that two groups are involved in the clashes to control the drug trade in Geneva camp. One is led by Chua Selim and the other by Bhuiyan Sohel. Chua Selim is a top yaba dealer in Dhaka, accused in at least 60 cases. He has been joined by another yaba dealer, Parmonu, Shah Alam. Bhuiyan Sohel and his accomplices were arrested in the army operation. In his absence, Sohel's two brothers, Rana and Kumkum, are running the drug trade and group. In addition, at least 30 families known as Syedpuriyans in the camp work for Sohel. Bam, Babu and Naushad are among them.

Apart from Selim and Sohel, four other top groups control the drug trade in Geneva camp. The number of members of the six groups is at least three hundred.

The other groups are Arshad, Picchi Raja, Shahzada, Bara Raja, Pelu Arman and Munnaf's group. Their number of members is more than 60. The number of members of the group of Bhangari Arju, Tote, Kamran, Saju, Adil and Faizan is 45. The group of Galkata Manu, Shah Alam, Imtiaz, Akram Chorwa Janu, Billu, Sabu, Basir and Irfan has more than 55 members. Another group is led by Babu, Saddam, Manu, Mofiz, Suman, Raju, Nadeem and Jambu. They also have fifty members. And most of the members of these drug groups are young and teenagers.

In the last three months, the law enforcement agencies have been shaken by the incidents of weapons training and killings by drug dealers in the Geneva camp. More than 150 criminals, including top drug dealers, have been arrested in a series of raids. More than 50 cases have been filed against them. Weapons and ammunition were recovered. Although the situation has calmed down a bit due to the operation, residents are still worried.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is going to take special initiatives to restore peace in the Geneva Camp, which has become a hotbed of violence in Mohammadpur. CCTV cameras will be installed around the Geneva Camp to stop drug trafficking and violence by criminals in the Geneva Camp. Every entrance and important point of the camp will be brought under surveillance. So that drug traffickers or criminals cannot carry out their activities.

Meanwhile, the army is conducting regular operations to catch criminals in the Geneva Camp. It has been learned from talking to several officials that regular operations are being conducted to stop weapons training in the camp. Operations are underway to catch identified top drug traffickers. In addition, dog squads are being used to recover drugs along with searches.

When asked what measures have been taken to stop drug sales and weapons training at the Geneva camp, DMP's Tejgaon Division Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADC) Mohammad Ziaul Haque told Barta24.com, "Two temporary police camps have been set up at the Geneva camp to stop the violence of criminals. In addition, suspicious people are being searched while entering and exiting the Geneva camp. Any outsider who wants to enter the camp is facing questions. Now, no one can come and buy illegal things. Overall, due to our activities, the Geneva camp has improved compared to before." Regarding the installation of CCTV cameras, he said, "The DMP has taken an initiative to install CCTV cameras at the Geneva camp. Every entry and exit of the camp will be covered by CCTV cameras. Verification work has already started. Work is underway to determine how many cameras will be installed at which points. The installation of cameras will begin soon." When asked about the security situation at the Geneva camp, Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ali Iftekhar Hasan told Barta24.com, "We are conducting regular operations at the Geneva camp. Those involved are being arrested and cases are being filed. In addition, 40 of our members have been deployed. There is no problem in the camp now."