In a dramatic turn of events, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed to head Bangladesh‘s interim government following the sudden departure of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled the country amid a mass uprising that has left hundreds dead and plunged the nation into chaos.
The announcement came early Wednesday from Joynal Abedin, press secretary to the country’s figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin, after a high-stakes meeting involving military chiefs, student protest organizers, business leaders, and civil society members.
Yunus, a longtime adversary of Hasina, is currently in Paris advising Olympic organizers. He is expected to return to Bangladesh on Thursday to be sworn in along with the new interim government. His lawyers confirmed that a Dhaka court recently overturned a conviction for labor law violations, one of many charges he claimed were politically motivated by Hasina’s administration.
A Visionary Leader Returns
Yunus, an economist and banker, was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in developing microcredit markets through the Grameen Bank, which he founded in 1983. His efforts have lifted thousands out of poverty by providing small loans to those who would not qualify for traditional bank loans.
In response to his appointment, Yunus described Hasina’s resignation as the country’s “second liberation day,” echoing his belief in a new era for Bangladesh. Although Yunus could not immediately be reached for comment, Nahid Islam, a key protest organizer, confirmed that he had accepted the role.
Formation of the New Government
Other members of the interim government will be chosen soon after consultations with political parties and stakeholders, Abedin said. President Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for a transitional administration and new elections.
In a significant move, Shahabuddin also ordered the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia from house arrest. Zia, a longtime rival of Hasina, was convicted on corruption charges in 2018.
The Fall of Sheikh Hasina
Hasina fled to India by helicopter as protesters defied a military curfew and stormed her residence. Reports indicate that Bangladesh’s army chief, Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, informed Hasina’s office that troops would not enforce the curfew, leading to her resignation and departure. The decision followed a brutal crackdown on demonstrations that began as student protests against preferential job quotas and escalated into a broader movement demanding Hasina’s removal.
A Nation in Turmoil
The protests, which started in July, have resulted in over 300 deaths, with the violence peaking on Sunday when 91 people were killed in nationwide clashes. Students criticized the job quota system for favoring descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 independence war, sparking widespread unrest.
As Hasina remains in India, the country she ruled for 20 of the last 30 years faces an uncertain future. Her resignation marks the end of an era but opens a new chapter under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, whose vision and track record offer hope for stability and progress.
Stay tuned to Kishoreganj Post for further updates on this developing story.
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