Yunus joins first meeting at Secretariat

Prof Muhammad Yunus have been holding a meeting at the Secretariat for the first time, 100 days after assuming the role of the chief adviser of the interim government.

The meeting of the Advisory Council started at 11:03am with Yunus in the chair.

Previously, he used to hold meetings at the State Guest House Jamuna and the Chief Adviser's Office.

Today's meeting will address proposed amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act. The amendment, if passed, will empower the tribunal to recommend penalties against any party or organisation found guilty of crimes against humanity.

According to sources, the meeting will be held in the Cabinet Room of the Cabinet Division, located on the 13th floor of Building 6 in the Secretariat. Though designated for cabinet meetings, the room has hosted occasional secretarial meetings a couple of times annually. 

Yunus' arrival has led to a general cleanup of buildings and internal roads of the Secretariat. 

Visitor's access has been restricted till the chief adviser leaves the premises. 

The cabinet meetings were usually held at the Cabinet Room on the fourth floor of Building No. 1 of the Secretariat until the Public Works Department declared the building "risky" in 2017.

Later, another room was prepared for the cabinet meeting on the 13th floor of the 20-storey building of the Secretariat. But after the fire at Banani's FR Tower in March 2019, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina raised questions about the fire safety system of Building No. 6. Since then, cabinet meetings were usually held at the Prime Minister's Office.