The Advisory Council has emphasized the need for “a broader unity” to ensure national stability and achieve key goals such as “organising a free and fair election, justice, and reform,” while warning against the return of authoritarianism.

An unscheduled meeting of the Advisory Council was held on Saturday (May 24) at the Planning Commission in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Led by the Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the two-hour long meeting included detailed discussions on three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice.

In a formal statement issued following the meeting, the Advisory Council expressed concern over “unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes,” which it said were “continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public.”

It stated that the interim government would “listen to the views of political parties and clarify its own position” on these matters.

“Despite all obstacles, the Interim Government continues to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests,” the statement said. However, it also issued a cautionary note: “If—under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy—the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people.”

Referring to the historic July Uprising, the government reaffirmed its commitment to the public’s expectations. “But if the government’s autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps,” the statement concluded.