Interim Government’s Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, today urged students and the public to safeguard the country’s minority communities, accusing certain groups of inciting unrest by attacking minorities.
“Newspapers report attacks on minority communities. Why are they suffering? Aren’t they citizens of this country? You, the students, have saved the nation—can’t you also protect minority families?” Dr. Yunus asked students participating in the anti-discriminatory movement.
During a day-long visit to Rangpur, Dr. Yunus exchanged views with students at Begum Rokeya University (BRUR). He visited the home of Shaheed Abu Sayed, a student killed in police firing during the quota reform movement, to offer his condolences to the family.
Dr. Yunus urged the students to shield Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and other minority families from harm, condemning the attacks as “heinous acts.”
“You must declare—no one can harm them. They are our brothers. We fought together, and we will remain together,” he emphasized.
He likened Bangladesh to a unified family, remarking, “There is no more beautiful family than this. Many countries exist, but none have a family as beautiful as ours.”
Expressing confidence in the youth, Dr. Yunus stated that students have the power to elevate the country to new heights. “Rangpur, Bangladesh, is now in your hands. Where do you want to take it? You have the power to shape its future. This isn’t a matter of research—it’s the power within you,” he declared.
Remembering Abu Sayed as an “epic character,” Dr. Yunus predicted that his sacrifice would inspire future literature, poems, and stories.
He praised the students and youth of Bangladesh for astonishing the world. “What you have achieved is our second victory. May this triumph remain in our hands! Only you can ensure that. We, the older generation, cannot,” he stated.
Dr. Yunus also urged older individuals to step aside, as they were hindering progress.
He stressed the importance of having a dream, stating, “Without a dream, there is chaos. But if you have a dream and pursue it, you’ll see it realized. At first, it seems impossible. But once you start, you’ll see it done. You possess the power to turn the impossible into possible. Nothing is impossible for you.”
Dr. Yunus encouraged the youth to never retreat and acknowledged that the older generation had failed to achieve what the students had accomplished. “We couldn’t do it; we failed. We couldn’t take you where you were supposed to go,” he admitted.
He warned the students not to fail this time, as many were poised to sabotage their efforts.
The Chief Adviser vowed to clean up the system, stating, “We will clean everything. We will not rest until it is done.”
Later, in a separate event at Rangpur Circuit House, Dr. Yunus addressed government officials, urging them to restore discipline. He called on them to work with dedication to transform Bangladesh into a civilized nation, promising that his government would do everything possible to uphold the lawful rights of its citizens.
