Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, has taken an oath as Bangladesh’s temporary leader, promising to defend the constitution.
The 84-year-old made a promise at the presidential palace in Dhaka with over a dozen members of his new cabinet, pledging to fulfill his responsibilities “honestly”.
Just days after Sheikh Hasina, who dominated Bangladesh for 15 years, flew to India, he arrived in the capital, Dhaka.
After weeks of student-led protests, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and escalated in demands for her resignation, Ms Hasina stepped down as prime minister.
The appointment of Prof Yunus as chief adviser of the interim government came after President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders, and student leaders met.
The students were adamant about not supporting a military-led government, but were in favor of having Prof Yunus as their leader.
Included in his new cabinet are Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, who were students that spearheaded the anti-government demonstrations.
It is hoped that Prof Yunus, also known as the banker for the poor, will restore democracy in Bangladesh following years of autocratic governance.
“The entrepreneur and economist expressed their excitement to the BBC upon arriving in Dhaka from France on Thursday.”
He later informed journalists that Bangladesh had achieved a second independence, while also urging for the reestablishment of law and order in the country of 170 million inhabitants.
After Prof Yunus was sworn in, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his “best wishes” on X/Twitter, affirming his government’s dedication to collaborating with its neighboring country for “peace, security and development”
Prof Yunus honored the deceased, stating they had safeguarded the country and revitalized it following Ms Hasina’s leadership.
She initially started the rule as a representation of democracy, but was ultimately seen as a dictator who tried to strengthen her power by suppressing opposing views.
Jails were packed with individuals who tried to voice their opposition to her. Prof Yunus, praised for his innovative use of micro-loans, was among those who faced legal issues while in office.
Ms Hasina sees him as a public foe – he is out on bail, challenging a six-month prison sentence in a case he deems politically-driven.
He urged the youth of the country on Thursday to assist him in reconstructing the nation in South Asia.
“We ruined the opportunities for Bangladesh to become a beautiful country,” he stated.
“We need to construct a seedbed once more – they will be the ones building the new seedbed,” he said, pointing to the students who had come to welcome him.
His rise to power as Bangladesh’s temporary leader comes after a period of unrest.
Over 400 deaths have been recorded following demonstrations that started in July to eliminate a quota system for government job positions.
One-third of these positions are set aside for family members of veterans who participated in Bangladesh’s war of independence from Pakistan in 1971. Activists claimed the system was biased and required a complete revamp.
After the students’ demands were supported by the Supreme Court and the quota system was significantly reduced, the protests evolved into a broader anti-government movement due to crackdowns.
Bangladeshi media and protesters accused the police for the increasing number of deaths. Authorities asserted that police officers shot only in self-defense or to safeguard state assets.
On Monday, students and their allies had scheduled a march to the prime minister’s home.
Before the march could begin, it was announced that Sheikh Hasina had left Bangladesh and stepped down as prime minister. She is presently located in Delhi.
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