Picture : ANI / X
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh. Yunus, 84, was administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the presidential palace ‘Bangabhaban’.
The world acclaimed economist-turned-politician was appointed as the head of the interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.
Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending.
Yunus was in Paris for the Olympic Games. He returned to the country via Dubai. An Emirates flight (EK-582) carrying Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:10 pm local time. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members welcomed him at the airport.
At an emotional press conference at the airport, Yunus expressed gratitude to the youth who made the protest movement against Hasina successful.
“We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence,” he said. “The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country,” he said.
“We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens,” he said. He asked the citizens to save the country from chaos created during the protests. “Bangladesh can be a very beautiful country and we can make it one,” he said.
He also paid tribute to Abu Sayed, who was among the first killed in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He will go directly to Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s official residence. This interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi took to X to congratulate Yunus
My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024
