Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst violent student-led protests.
Yunus, known globally for his pioneering work in microfinance, was appointed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin after consultations with student leaders and military chiefs, local media reported on Tuesday.
The appointment came a day after turmoil in Bangladesh, with Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country following a brutal crackdown on demonstrators. The protests, which began in opposition to public sector job quotas favouring families of veterans from the 1971 independence war, escalated into a broader movement against the ruling Awami League. Critics argued that the quotas were a means to reserve jobs for the party’s allies.
The unrest, which has claimed about 300 lives and injured thousands since July, reached a peak with student protesters demanding the dissolution of parliament. Yunus, who held meetings with various stakeholders before his appointment, is seen as a neutral figure capable of navigating the crisis.
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20 Leaders Of Sheikh Hasina’s Party Found Dead As Protests Continue
As the situation in Bangladesh remains tense, the Dhaka Tribune reported the discovery of 29 bodies, including 20 leaders from Hasina’s Awami League party. These deaths highlight the severity of the ongoing violence that continues to grip the nation.
The student-led uprising, which toppled the Sheikh Hasina government, was sparked by discontent over job quotas in the public sector, perceived as favouritism towards the ruling party’s allies. The violent crackdown on these protests has led to widespread chaos, prompting the appointment of Yunus as a stabilizing figure for the interim government.
Yunus’s leadership will be critical in addressing the demands of the protesters and steering the country towards stability amidst this unprecedented political and social upheaval.
