Bangladesh's interim government leader announced!
Following weeks of anti-government protests in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country. The parliament was dissolved, and an interim government was established, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
In a country roiled by student protests, the appointment of Yunus as the head of the interim government marks a significant shift. Sheikh Hasina, who has served as the nation's prime minister for many years, fled the country amid a massive uprising that resulted in hundreds of deaths and brought Bangladesh to the brink of chaos.
The remaining members of the interim government will be selected after consultations with various political parties, according to reports.
Media outlets have indicated that Yunus, a long-time political adversary of Hasina, is expected to return soon from Paris, where he has been advising Olympic organizers.
Describing Hasina's resignation as the country's "second liberation day," Yunus highlighted the corruption allegations that plagued Hasina's tenure.
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the release from house arrest of opposition leader Khaleda Zia, Hasina's long-standing rival, who was convicted of corruption in 2018.
Who is Muhammad Yunus?
Eighty-four-year-old Muhammad Yunus, long seen as a rival by Hasina, is known as the "banker to the poor." Yunus, a Nobel laureate, has been convicted of numerous financial crimes in Bangladesh. Many believe he was targeted due to his strained relationship with Hasina.
A group of prominent figures, including former U.S. President Barack Obama and former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, wrote to Hasina, requesting the suspension of legal proceedings against Yunus.
An economist and banker, Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in developing microcredit markets. Through the Grameen Bank, which he founded in 1983, Yunus has provided small loans to entrepreneurs who are not eligible for traditional bank loans, lifting thousands out of poverty.
Background
Protests in Bangladesh began in mid-July, led by students, after the government decided to allocate public sector quotas to the children of those who served in the 1971 Independence War. The demonstrations ended when the Supreme Court reduced the quota percentages at the end of July.
Following the ban of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party and its student wing, blamed for the violence during the protests, demonstrators took to the streets again, this time demanding justice for those who had died.
During the protests, hundreds of people were killed, and thousands were detained. As violence escalated, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left her official residence and fled to India via military helicopter. In her absence, protesters stormed her official residence.
Bangladesh Army Commander General Waker-Uz-Zaman, after meeting with political party representatives, announced Hasina's resignation and the formation of an interim government.
