Chief Adviser's rhetoric doesn't match his actions: Dr. Debapriya

Famed economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya has said that Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has failed to establish resemblance between his rhetoric and his actions. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya is Distinguished Fellow of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD). He made the above comment while addressing a seminar organized by Center for Governance Studies (CGS) in the capital Dhaka city on Sunday (8 February 2026).

Economists Dr. Selim Jahan, civil society dignitaries including Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder and politicians, educationists, media professionals and representatives of minorities attended the seminar. It was presided over by CGS President Zillur Rahman. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya criticized the interim government for being unable to carry out any effective reforms of state organs. This government has run out of steam, he further said.

Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya laid emphasis on organizing the 13th parliamentary elections smoothly and impartially. He complained that the spokespersons of the interim government conducted a smear campaign about attacks on religious minorities. 645 attacks on religious minorities were conducted during 2025 across Bangladesh, Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya stated with reference to the government's calculation. Attacks were launched on women too, he further said.

Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya commented that the electoral manifestos of different political parties don't contain enough categorical and progressive commitments. Implementing electoral manifestos are far more important than just propagating electoral pledges, he added. Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya called upon the authorities concerned to ensure the inclusion of all voters in the elections including women, minorities, political opponents etcetera.