Interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s dictatorship had destroyed every institution of the country in the effort to stay in power.

The judiciary had been broken, he said while briefing diplomats stationed in Dhaka.

The chief adviser said he had taken up the responsibility at the request of the students. He paid deep respect to those who made supreme sacrifices in the recent student movement.

The briefing began at Inter Continental hotel at about 1:00pm.

This was the first briefing by the chief adviser to diplomats stationed in Dhaka since the interim government’s inception.

Professor Yunus conveyed to the international community that the interim government is committed to holding free, fair, and participatory elections soon once ‘deep reforms’ are done.

He sought the international community’s support to build Bangladesh.

Chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.

The chief adviser conveyed to the diplomats that it was the second revolution after 1971 and the previous government left the country in a ‘complete mess.’ Banks were robbed through political patronisation, he said.

Professor Yunus said that they wanted to build a poverty-free and prosperous Bangladesh, adding that they were now close to normalcy.

Over 50 diplomats, including representatives of the UN agencies, were attending the briefing.

The chief adviser exchanged pleasantries with diplomats at the event.

Public diplomacy wing director general Seheli Sabrin, and chief adviser’s deputy press secretary Apurba Jahangir were also present at the briefing.