Muhammad Yunus arrives in Bangladesh to lead interim government

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader, pledging to “uphold, support and defend the constitution”.

The 84-year-old took the oath at the presidential palace in Dhaka along with more than a dozen members of his new cabinet, vowing to carry out his duties “sincerely”.

He flew to the capital Dhaka just days after Sheikh Hasina – the woman who ruled Bangladesh with an iron fist for 15 years – fled across the border to India.

Ms Hasina resigned as prime minister after weeks of student-led protests – which left hundreds dead – escalated and culminated in calls for her to resign.

The decision to appoint Professor Yunus as chief adviser to the interim government came after a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and student leaders.

The students made it clear that they would not accept a military-led government, but wanted Professor Yunus to lead.

Among his new cabinet are Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, students who led anti-government protests.

It is hoped that Professor Yunus, who is known as the banker of the poor, will bring democracy back to Bangladesh after years of dictatorship.

“Everyone is very excited,” the businessman and economist told the BBC shortly after arriving in Dhaka from France on Thursday.

He later told reporters that Bangladesh “has won its second independence” as he called for the restoration of law and order in the country of 170 million people.

Following Professor Yunus’ swearing-in, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his “best wishes” by tweeting that his government was “committed” to working with its neighbour for “peace, security and development”.

Professor Yunus paid tribute to those who died, saying they had “saved the country” and given it “new life” after Ms Hasina’s rule.

She began her rule as a symbol of democracy but by the time she fled she was seen as a dictator who sought to consolidate her power by stifling dissent.

Prisons were filled with people who sought to speak out against her. Professor Yunus – who was praised for pioneering the use of microloans – was among those who ran into legal trouble during her tenure.

Ms Hasina regards him as a public enemy – he is currently out on bail, appealing against a six-month prison sentence in a case he calls politically motivated.

Speaking on Thursday, he called on young people in the country to help him rebuild the South Asian country.

“Bangladesh could be a beautiful country, but we have destroyed those possibilities,” he said.

“Now we have to rebuild the seedbed – the new seedbed will be built by them,” he added, gesturing to the students who had come to greet him.

His ascension as Bangladesh’s interim leader comes after weeks of turmoil.

More than 400 people are believed to have died after protests aimed at abolishing a civil service job quota system began in July.

A third of these jobs go to relatives of veterans of Bangladesh’s war for independence from Pakistan, which took place in 1971. Campaigners say the system is discriminatory and needs to change.

Although these demands were largely met after the Supreme Court backed the students’ demands and significantly reduced the size of the quota system, the protests later morphed into a broader anti-government movement. fueled by repression.

Bangladeshi media and protesters blame the police for the soaring death toll. Officials insist that police only open fire in self-defense or to protect state property.

Students and their supporters have planned to march to the prime minister’s residence on Monday.

But before the parade could properly take place, news came that Sheikh Hasina had fled Bangladesh and resigned as prime minister. She is now in Delhi.