- A Nobel Prize winner rules Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as head of the transitional government. This was shown in local television footage. The 84-year-old inventor of microcredits is expected to remain in power until new elections are held, the timing of which was initially unclear. He is the preferred candidate of the participants in the mass protests against the government.
Upon his return to his homeland, Yunus declared the restoration of law and order as the most important task. "We cannot take a step forward if the situation of law and order is not restored," he said at the airport in Dhaka. The 84-year-old was scheduled to be sworn in as head of the interim government appointed by the military in the evening (local time, 4:00 PM CEST).
"This is a glorious day for us," said Yunus. Bangladesh has experienced a "new day of victory" and has gained a "second independence." The Nobel laureate also called on the people to have trust in him and to stop their violence against "anyone, everywhere in the country."
Students wanted Nobel laureate as head of transitional government
Yunus, who was abroad, was nominated on Tuesday as head of a transitional government following weeks of mass protests with at least 455 deaths and the flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The long-serving prime minister resigned on Monday following the mass protests and deadly clashes between protesters and security forces, initially fleeing to India by military helicopter.
According to local media, more than 400 people have died in the protests since July. The student protests initially targeted a quota system for job allocation in the public sector but later escalated into demands for the prime minister's resignation. As many as 122 people were killed in the violent clashes with security forces last Monday alone.
After Hasina's flight, the decision to appoint Yunus was made at a meeting of President Mohammed Shahabuddin with representatives of the protest movement and the military. The armed forces had reportedly been de facto in charge of the country.
Economist Yunus, a staunch critic of former Prime Minister Hasina, is seen as a hope to lead the country of over 170 million people out of crisis. The economist helped millions of people in the South Asian country out of poverty in the 1980s through the granting of microcredits. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for this in 2006.
Bangladesh hopes for improvement
Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a televised address that he was confident Yunus could lead them through a "beautiful democratic process." Moynul Islam Pintu, who attended a rally of the former opposition party BNP, said he hoped a national government with the consent of all would now be formed. "I expect the country to be governed in a friendly manner and for the police to be reformed so they cannot harass the people," he said.
The transitional government has an opportunity to steer Bangladesh back towards genuine democracy, says independent analyst Thomas Kean of the Crisis Group. He expects Yunus to want to implement political and economic reforms, although this could be difficult if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the second-largest party after Hasina's Awami League, pushes for quick new elections.
The 76-year-old Hasina held power in Bangladesh for 15 years. Her government was accused of human rights abuses, including wrongful imprisonment and killing of opposition figures. More than a hundred cases were brought against Yunus during her tenure, but only one resulted in a conviction, which was reportedly overturned just before Yunus' return to Bangladesh.
Hindu Minority Flees Towards India
Following Hasina's resignation, there have been reports of isolated incidents of violence. Most of the victims were supporters of Hasina's Awami League, and several police stations were set on fire. Meanwhile, students took on some policing duties, directing traffic at several intersections in the capital and cleaning walls of graffiti targeting the former government.
According to Indian border guards, many Hindus, seen as supporters of the former prime minister, attempted to flee to India after Hasina's departure. Hundreds gathered at various points along the border. During the protests, several Hindu minority businesses and homes in Bangladesh were attacked.
Upon his arrival in Dhaka, Yunus attempted to calm tensions: "Every person is our brother," he said, "and must be protected." He referred to Bangladesh as "one big family."
In light of the student's desire, the nomination of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as head of the transitional government was finalized. The violence against anyone across the country should cease, as urged by Yunus, who aims to lead Bangladesh out of crisis.
