Uprising gave great opportunities to set new course for Bangladesh: Alex Soros

The Open Society Foundations Chairman, Alex Soros, said today that they will explore ways to support the Bangladesh interim government's reform efforts.

He also said the student-led mass uprising has given "great opportunities" to set a new course for the country.

Alex Soros made the remarks when he and the Open Society Foundation President, Binaifer Nowrojee, called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today.

They expressed support for reforms undertaken by the interim government and discussed Bangladesh's efforts to rebuild the economy, trace siphoned-off assets, combat misinformation, and carry out vital economic reforms.

Alex Soros commended Professor Yunus for leading the country at a critical time in its history and shepherding reforms needed to fix the country's institutions and rebuild the economy.

They discussed issues ranging from the July uprising, transitional justice for the victims of struggle, economic reforms, media, recovery of stolen assets, the new cybersecurity laws and the Rohingya crisis.

"We will explore ways to support your efforts in these areas," said Alex Soros.

Chief Adviser Professor Yunus thanked the Open Society Foundations for its support, while urging the Foundation to do more to spread the news of the student-led uprising.

"What I experienced during my visit to Davos was that not many people know about the July uprising," he said. "There is a lot of disinformation."

He said Bangladesh media now enjoys unprecedented freedom, but misinformation and disinformation have flooded social media.

The Chief Adviser asked the Foundation to help the country in "asset tracing" in order to bring back some $234 billion siphoned off during Sheikh Hasina's 16-year-long rule.

Professor Yunus said the interim government inherited a "devastated and war-torn" economy, and he sought the Foundations' support in the rebuilding process.

The foundation also expressed its desire to help Bangladesh's crucial LDC graduation — a move welcomed by the chief adviser.

"We have to think about how to do the transition without any problems," he said.