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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken the oath as Bangladesh’s interim leader. Upon his arrival in the country, he acknowledged that “there is much work to be done.”
The 84-year-old remarked that “people are excited” shortly after landing in Dhaka from France on Thursday.
His flight arrived just a few days after Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh with an iron grip for 15 years, fled to India.
She resigned from her position as prime minister following weeks of student-led protests that escalated into widespread unrest, leaving hundreds dead and leading to demands for her to step down.
The decision to appoint Prof Yunus as the interim government’s chief adviser came after a meeting involving President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military officials, and student leaders.
The students had made it clear they would not support a military-led government and instead wanted Prof Yunus to take charge.
There is hope that Prof Yunus, often referred to as the “banker for the poor,” will restore democracy in Bangladesh after years of authoritarian rule.
On Thursday, he stressed the importance of “discipline” as the country begins its recovery.
“Hard work and execution,” the smiling professor added as he moved through the airport. “New opportunities have emerged.”
“Today is a historic day for us,” he later told reporters, describing the moment as akin to Bangladesh gaining “a second independence” and calling for the restoration of law and order.
Bangladesh has been in a state of upheaval in recent weeks. Reports indicate that over 400 people have died since protests began in June, demanding the end of a civil service quota system.
Many of those killed lost their lives after the Supreme Court largely sided with student demands and eliminated much of the quota system last month.
In the weeks following, the protests evolved into a broader anti-government movement. Students and their supporters had planned a march on the prime minister’s residence on Monday.
However, before the march could fully take shape, news broke that Sheikh Hasina had fled Bangladesh and resigned as prime minister. She is now in Delhi.
Prof Yunus paid homage to those who had died, saying they had “protected the nation” and given it “new life” after the end of Hasina’s rule.
Hasina’s tenure had started as a beacon of democracy, but by the time she fled, she was seen as an autocrat who sought to consolidate power by stifling dissent.
Prisons were filled with those who attempted to voice opposition to her regime. Prof Yunus, who is celebrated for his groundbreaking work with micro-loans, was among those who faced legal challenges during her administration.
Hasina viewed him as a significant adversary. He is currently out on bail, appealing a six-month prison sentence that he has called politically motivated.
On Thursday, he urged the youth of the nation to join him in rebuilding the country.
“Bangladesh has the potential to be a beautiful country, but we squandered those opportunities,” he said.
“Now we must lay a new foundation this new foundation will be constructed by them,” he added, gesturing toward the students who had gathered to welcome him.
NANCY MBAMALU
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