Dhaka: Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has stated that elections will not take place until critical reforms are implemented to restore democratic institutions, following the ouster of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In an interview published Tuesday by Prothom Alo, Yunus emphasized the need for reforms before any electoral process, citing the "completely broken down" state of public administration left by Hasina's regime.

Yunus, appointed as "chief advisor" after a student-led uprising in August toppled Hasina’s 15-year rule, said that his temporary administration’s priority is to prevent a return to autocracy by overhauling the system. "Reforms are pivotal," Yunus remarked. "If you say, hold the election, we are ready to hold the election. But it would be wrong to hold the election first."

Hasina's tenure was marked by widespread human rights abuses, politicized courts, and staged elections. Yunus’s government has also faced criticism over the arrest of Hasina loyalists, including politicians and senior police officers. Yunus, however, pledged that all trials would remain free from political interference, saying they would be addressed once the judicial system is reformed.

Yunus expressed support for press freedom despite the recent arrests of journalists. “Write as you please,” he told the newspaper, adding that media criticism is vital for holding the government accountable.