Bangladesh government temporarily led by Nobel laureate
Photo: Muhammad Yunus (flickr.com)
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of the interim government of Bangladesh on Thursday, August 8. His appointment followed the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after mass protests, Euronews informs.
Yunus reportedly returned to Bangladesh today from an overseas trip. He was met at Dhaka International Airport by the country's Chief of Armed Forces General Waker-Uz-Zaman, as well as the heads of the Navy and Air Force.
Later, he was sworn in at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka before Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, as well as foreign diplomats, civil society members, top business leaders, and members of the former opposition party.
It is noted that Yunus is a long-time opponent of Hasina, and his appointment as interim head of government was proposed by the students who led the protest against the former prime minister.
What preceded
Numerous demonstrations and protests erupted in Bangladesh last month. During these protests, students demanded the abolition of quotas that reserved 30% of public service jobs for the families of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence against Pakistan in 1971.
The protesters also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina due to the deaths of hundreds of people during the protests.
Amid the mass protests, Hasina resigned and fled to India in a military helicopter.
Following this, Bangladesh's Chief of the Army General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government.
