DHAKA/ NEW DELHI : In a political development, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been chosen to lead Bangladesh’s interim government after the country’s former prime minister Sheik Hasina resigned and fled the country following weeks of violent unrest. Muhammad Yunus  with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Thursday.
Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said. He said the advisory council to be led by Mr Yunus may have 15 members. Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday appointed Mr Yunus, 84, to head the interim government after the violent ouster of former pro-India Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, General Waker said that the interim government is likely to be sworn in by Muhammad Yunus at 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 8, PTI reported. Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh will take oath on Thursday.
His announcement comes hours after President Mohammed Shahabuddin said an interim government would be formed after dissolving the parliament as soon as possible. In a televised address to the nation late Monday night, the president also ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases. Mr Yunus will have the title of chief adviser, according to Nahid Islam, one of the leaders of Students Against Discrimination who participated in the meeting.
India has recalled non-essential staff from its High Commission in Dhaka due to the ongoing crisis. The Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer has asked for calm after weeks of violence in which at least 455 people were killed. “If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed,” he added.
Tuesday morning, Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of the movement, said that Prof Yunus has agreed to take on this crucial responsibility at the call of the student community to save the country, the Daily Star newspaper reported.”We took 24 hours to announce a framework for the interim government. However, considering the emergency situation, we are announcing it now,” Mr. Nahid said.
“We have decided that the interim government would be formed in which internationally renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, would be the chief adviser,” said Nahid, flanked by two other coordinators. The newly appointed interim leader emphasized the importance of capitalizing on this political shift for the nation’s benefit.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, recently released, called for a democratic Bangladesh with respect for all religions. In a televised address to the nation late Monday night, the president also ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted in several cases.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview with Reuters, Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, underscored the importance of capitalizing on the current political shift. “Let us make the best use of our new victory, not let this slip away because of our mistakes,” Yunus said. The top positions in Bangladesh Army underwent a major reshuffle following Hasina’s escape after deadly protests against her government over a controversial job quota system. Earlier, in an exclusive interview with Reuters, Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, underscored the importance of capitalizing on the current political shift. “Let us make the best use of our new victory, not let this slip away because of our mistakes,” Yunus said. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government on Tuesday, according to President’s Press Secretary statement. The top positions in Bangladesh Army underwent a major reshuffle following Hasina’s escape after deadly protests against her government over a controversial job quota system.
Meanwhile, New Delhi is chalking out plans to host the neighbouring country’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina landed in India on Monday after fleeing Dhaka and is likely to remain here for “while” as her plans to travel to the UK face a “technical roadblock.”,
Mr Yunus will lead Bangladesh through a “democratic process” when he arrives in the country to helm the interim government, General Waker said. “He is very eager to do this,” the General said in a televised address to the nation. “I am certain that he will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process and that we will benefit from this,” he said.
Mr Yunus also said today he was looking forward to helping the country overcome its current turbulence. “I’m looking forward to going back home, see what’s happening and how we can organise ourselves to get out of the trouble we are in,” he told reporters before boarding a flight at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport bound for Dubai, where he will take a connecting plane for Dhaka.
The appointment came quickly after student leaders called on Mr Yunus — credited with lifting millions out of poverty in Bangladesh — to lead. The decision was made in a meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the heads of the army, navy and air force, and student leaders.
Ms Hasina, 76, who had been in power since 2009, resigned on Monday as hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Dhaka demanding she stand down. Monday’s events were the culmination of more than a month of unrest, which began as protests against a plan for quotas in government jobs but morphed into an anti-Hasina movement.
Ms Hasina, who was accused of rigging January elections and widespread human rights abuses, deployed security forces to quash the protests. Hundreds of people were killed in the crackdown, but the military turned against Ms Hasina on the weekend and she was forced to flee in a helicopter to neighboring India.
(Bureau Report with Media Inputs).

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Save