Chief Advisor and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Friday declared Bangladesh a “great nation” that will no longer live “under anyone’s thumb,” saying the country’s unity and reform efforts have restored its dignity on the world stage.
“We are not a small nation,” Yunus said during the signing of the July Charter at the National Parliament. “We are not a nation that survives on someone’s mercy. We walk our own way, with our heads held high.”
He said the reforms achieved through the July Charter prove that Bangladesh can serve as an example for other countries. “Other nations will learn from us,” he said. “We have that capability.”
Yunus urged citizens to take pride in the country’s transformation following last year’s mass uprising that ended years of authoritarian rule. “We are a great nation,” he said. “When others see us, they will respect us. They will wonder how we achieved this.”