'Bangladesh Is No Longer A Submissive Nation': Yunus In His Farewell Address

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 07:18 IST

Yunus, in his farewell address, added that Bangladesh is no longer a "submissive" nation.

As Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman, Tarique Rahman, is set to take oath as the new Prime Minister of the country today, outgoing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Monday said his 18-month rule restored three core pillars of Bangladesh’s external engagement — “sovereignty, national interests and dignity".

Yunus, in his farewell address, added that Bangladesh is no longer a “submissive" nation.

“Today’s Bangladesh is confident, active, and responsible in protecting its independent interests. It is no longer a country with a submissive foreign policy or dependent on the instructions and advice of other countries," Yunus said as his regime’s rule comes to end.

Speaking during a televised address a day ahead of quitting power, he emphasised that his 18-month tenure had rebuilt the three “fundamental foundations" of the country’s foreign engagement — “sovereignty, national interests, and dignity".

Yunus came to power after his interim regime took over the country in August 2024, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman, Tarique Rahman, is set to be sworn in as the country’s next Prime Minister on Tuesday after his party secured a two-thirds majority in the recently held general elections.

BNP, led by its chairman Tarique Rahman, bagged a whopping 209 out of 297 seats in the crucial 13th Parliamentary elections held on February 12.

“I call upon everyone, regardless of party, creed, religion, caste and gender, to continue the struggle to build a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh. With this appeal, I bid farewell with great optimism," Yunus said.

Yunus also thanked the Bangladeshi Army chief for the cooperation of the armed forces during the general election. On Sunday, Yunus held the last meeting of his advisory council or cabinet. Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman also paid a farewell visit to him on Monday.

Yunus On India’s ‘Seven Sisters’

In a final address to the nation before handing over power to a newly elected government headed by the BNP’s Tarique Rahman, Muhammad Yunus sparked significant concerns by invoking India’s ‘Seven Sisters’ alongside Nepal and Bhutan as a singular region combined with Bangladesh.

Yunus emphasised the vast growth potential of broader regional cooperation encompassing Nepal, Bhutan, and “northeastern India".

“Our open sea is not merely a geographical boundary; it is a gateway to the global economy," he said, adding that connectivity was central to the country’s next phase of development.

(With agency inputs)

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