Mohammad Yunus is a harsh critic of Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh is poised to establish an interim government today, headed by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weeks of violent student protests.
Key Points on the New Bangladesh Interim Government:
- Leadership Transition:
- Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s sole Nobel laureate, is expected to be sworn in as chief adviser alongside a team of advisers.
- Yunus, a staunch critic of Sheikh Hasina, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka from Paris today, where he has been undergoing medical treatment.
- Yunus’s Return:
- Before boarding his flight on Wednesday evening, Yunus told reporters, “I’m looking forward to going back home and seeing what’s happening there and how we can organize ourselves to get out of the trouble that we’re in.”
- Background:
- The 84-year-old Yunus, known as the “banker to the poor,” received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for founding a bank that pioneered the fight against poverty with small loans to needy borrowers. Despite his significant contributions to economic development, Yunus has largely remained distant from politics.
- Formation of the Interim Government:
- The decision to appoint Yunus as the head of the interim government was made during a meeting between Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders, and heads of the Students Against Discrimination group.
- Legal Developments:
- On Wednesday, a court overturned Yunus’s conviction in a labor case, in which he had received a six-month jail sentence in January.
- Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation:
- The announcement of the interim government came shortly after Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic exit on Monday from the country she governed for five terms.
- Hasina, 76, has fled to India and is currently taking shelter at an air base near Delhi.
- Student Protests:
- The student protests against controversial quotas for government jobs escalated in July, leading to over 250 deaths and thousands of injuries as protesters clashed with security forces and supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party.
- The protests were driven by economic hardship and political repression.
The formation of an interim government under Yunus’s leadership marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as the nation grapples with economic challenges and a demand for political reform.
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