Yunus served as the Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland from 2012 to 2018 and was previously a professor of economics at Chittagong University. (File Image)
In a significant political development, Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has been appointed to head Bangladesh’s interim government. This announcement was made by Abedin, the press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, after extensive consultations with student leaders who led the protests that resulted in the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Following Hasina's resignation and subsequent departure from the country on Monday, Bangladesh Army Chief Gen. Waqar-uz-Zaman assumed temporary control and announced the formation of an interim government. Despite the military's initial lack of clarity on the setup or its leadership, Yunus, currently in Paris for medical treatment, expressed his honor at the trust placed in him by the protesters.
“I am honored by the trust of the protesters,” Yunus said in a written statement. He emphasized the need for free elections to achieve lasting peace in Bangladesh. “If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it,” he added, reinforcing his commitment to the nation's stability and democratic process.
The call for Yunus to lead the interim government was strongly supported by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Nahid Islam, a national coordinator for the movement, insisted, “No government other than the one proposed by the students will be accepted. We reject any military-backed or fascist government.”
Despite his international acclaim, Yunus has faced over 100 criminal charges in Bangladesh, which he claims were politically motivated by Hasina’s government. He was forced out of Grameen Bank five years after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and has faced continuous political harassment.
On Tuesday, a 13-member team from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement met with President Shahabuddin and top military officials, including Gen. Waqar-uz-Zaman, to discuss the formation of the interim government. Asif Nazrul, a Dhaka University professor and vocal critic of Hasina’s administration, accompanied the student leaders.
The military appears open to Yunus leading the interim government, though opposition from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is anticipated. Meanwhile, the president dissolved the parliament elected in January, following discussions with various political and civil society leaders.
In related developments, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP, was released from house arrest. Several leaders of Hasina’s Awami League party were prevented from leaving the country, including former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud and former IT minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who were detained at Dhaka’s international airport.
Reports from Prothom Alo indicate that properties belonging to the Hindu minority and the Ahmadiyya community were attacked across Bangladesh. Hindu temples and homes were vandalized in various regions, exacerbating the country’s volatile situation.
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