Bangladesh's New Dawn: Yunus to Lead Interim Government

Political Upheaval in Bangladesh

• Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid mass protests
• Protests began in early July, initially demanding abolition of quotas in civil service jobs
• Movement expanded into broader anti-government protests
• Over 400 people believed to have died in clashes between government forces and protesters
• Bangladesh Army chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman temporarily took control of the country
• President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament formed after January's election
• Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia released from years of house arrest

Muhammad Yunus Appointed as Interim Government Head

• Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus named to lead Bangladesh's interim government
• Announcement made by President Mohammed Shahabuddin's press secretary
• Decision followed consultations with student leaders who spearheaded protests
• Anti-Discrimination Student Movement demanded Yunus as interim government head
• Yunus, currently in Paris for medical treatment, expressed honor at the trust placed in him
• He called for free elections to ensure lasting peace in Bangladesh
• Yunus dubbed the situation Bangladesh's "second liberation day"

Muhammad Yunus: Background and Achievements

• 83-year-old economist known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor"
• Founded Grameen Bank in 1983 to provide microloans to impoverished people
• Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering microcredit
• Grameen Bank's success led to similar microfinancing efforts globally
• Faced over 100 criminal cases under Hasina's government, which he claimed were politically motivated
• Forced out of Grameen Bank five years after receiving the Nobel Prize
• Constantly hounded by Hasina's government and faced numerous attacks

Challenges and Expectations for the Interim Government

• Yunus faces potential opposition from Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
• Military consulted these parties regarding the formation of a caretaker regime
• Interim government tasked with organizing free and fair elections
• Yunus emphasized that lasting peace will only come through free elections
• Concerns about attacks on minority communities, including Hindus and Ahmadiyyas
• Reports of vandalism and looting of Hindu homes, temples, and businesses in various parts of Bangladesh
• International community watching closely for signs of stability and democratic progress