Bangladesh Crisis: Interim Government Led By Nobel Winner Muhammad Yunus To Take Oath Tomorrow

Dhaka: In a significant development after the military coup in Bangladesh, an interim government led by Nobel-laureate Muhammad Yunus will take oath tomorrow. After Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to resign and leave the country, nation’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the interim government is likely to take oath at 8 PM.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, General Waker said the interim government is likely to be sworn in at 8:00 PM on Thursday. He also said the advisory council may have 15 members.
Who Is Muhammad Yunus?
Yunus, the 84-year-old economist, was on Tuesday appointed as the head of interim government by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus will be the chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced on Tuesday.
In a video posted on social media early 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,” 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.
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.
Nahid urged the president to take steps as soon as possible to form an interim government headed by Dr Yunus. He said the names of the other members of the interim government would be announced soon. On the widespread violence, he said it was being carried out by the “ousted fascists and their collaborators” to foil the revolution.
(With inputs from agencies)