Bangladesh should have run mid-term election within a 'short time' to overcome the crisis through restoring democracy with public mandate, Noble Laureate economist Dr Muhammad Yunus opines.

“Of course, election is the ultimate solution to all political problems. When something doesn't work, you go back to the people to seek their instructions. They are the ultimate owners of the country. Make sure it is a genuine election, not an election of a magician,” Prof Yunus tells the Hindu, an Indian newspaper.

Dr Yunus, inventor of social business, is now in Paris of France to attend the Olympics ceremony as special guest. Pointing finger at Hasina, he said that democracy can't flourish with a magician.

Sheikh Hasina won a fourth consecutive term amid controversies, after the main opposition party and allies boycotted election in January this year.

“Get the people's mandate, freely and fairly. That's it. Democracy cures problems by getting people's instructions, because state belongs to the people, not to some people in the government,” said Dr Yunus.

During the interview with journalist Suhasini Haidar, the economist claimed that Bangladesh authorities have been suppressing the locals by bullets alike foreign forces evading from another country.

“The issue is the government is treating the situation as if a foreign army is invading Bangladesh... mobilising the Army and paramilitary to suppress demonstrators with bullets. They are in the mood to defeat them, not for bringing order,” he said.

Dr Yunus condemns the killing of students and commoners as an 'invading force' from another country. The Noble Laureate has been appealing to world leaders to observe the random killing in Bangladesh.

“I cannot bear to see it, I can't see millions of Bangladeshis living in terror. Democracy puts people's life as the highest priority. Democracy is about protecting people, all people, irrespective of religion, political opinion, or any other differences of opinion. If a citizen is about to kill another person, the state’s first responsibility is to protect the person under attack,” he said critisising the incumbent regime in Dhaka.

Killing the attacker is the last option, not the first option and that was the way the government of Bangladesh responded, according to the economist.

“Demonstrators were not out there to kill anybody. Their demand may be unpleasant to the government, but that doesn't allow government to shoot them to kill,”

Dr Yunus is hoping that global leaders can use their informal relationships and informal channels to restrain our leaders, make them aware of the serious departure from the norm of democracy.

“As a friendly action, to pick up the phone and say, What's going on there? The kind of things friends do for friends, some way of cooling it down which would be helpful in saving people's lives,” he said.

Dr Yunus further mentioned that India and Bangladesh are historical friends. India has already made a statement saying, this is the internal matter of Bangladesh.

“We still have the dream of SAARC. We help each other. We make things easier for each other. There are natural bonds among us. If something happens in one country it can happen to another country at ease,” he said.

Regarding the recent student protest in Dhaka, the economist condemned the killing of students and innocent people by the police, para military and army.

“This is a very strange situation. Why do you have to bring in an army to tackle the student demonstration? Now you say, there are some enemies inside. Who are those enemies? Identify them and deal with them, not by killing students,” added Dr Yunus.

He said that the Quota movement has not the slightest touch regarding the relationship between Bangladesh and India.

“The issue is democracy, rule of law, human rights, and the role of the judiciary. People have the right to express their views and the Government has no right to kill them for their views,”

Dr Yunus further said that there are procedures on dealing with those who break the law.

“Nothing says that you have to kill at random. This is not the first time in the world where a government has had to deal with demonstrations. We see police firing innocent students raising their hands and shooting at close range because they have power to shoot to kill. That's what we see,” he said.

Dr Yunus urged all members of SAARC to investigate the recent incidents in Dhaka as neighbouring countries.

“All the media should come and see what is happening. First thing they [Bangladesh authorities] did, was to close down everything so that they can do things under cover of darkness so that nobody can see it from outside or even from inside. Today what is happening in Bangladesh may happen in India. If you don't speak out today, you bring this day closer for India, Nepal, Pakistan or other SAARC countries easily,” he said, making calls upon the South Asian countries.

Yunus, a major rival of Sheikh Hasina, mentioned that the people in Bangladesh have committed themselves to democracy and to stay with democracy.

“Whether you're freshly elected or you're not elected, or you are abusing your position without the consent of the people, does not matter in democracy. You are a government responsible to protect people, not kill people. You cannot just pick up somebody because he belongs to the opposition party, so he is liable to be arrested,” he said.

If democracy fails, Dr Yunus believes that the politicians should go back to the people again to get the mandate of the people, credibility of the people, the government doesn't have any credibility left at this moment.

“Do whatever is the norm in such situations arising within democratic framework. Democracy laid down all solutions. I don't have to give a new verdict on that. That is the role I'm playing right now, explaining the need for democracy [in Bangladesh],”

Hasina has posted about 200 charges against Dr Yunus. Is the action a personal attack? Dr Yunus replied that these cases are also a failure of the rule of law.

“The accusations against me are about embezzlement, forgery, and money laundering. That I stole money from my own organisation. These are government accusations. These are totally fabricated stories, all made up,” he said. Many human rights organizations have mentioned that the charges are set to harass Dr Muhammad Yunus.