Amidst the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh, main organizers have called for Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
Nahid Islam, a prominent figure in the protest movement, announced on social media that Yunus had agreed to take on the role, according to the media outlet. Demonstrators urged President Mohammed Shahabuddin to swiftly form an interim government headed by Yunus. The latter, aged 84 and known as the “banker to the poor,” has been declared a possible chief advisor to the interim government in question.
Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, which has helped lift millions out of poverty. He previously faced corruption accusations in Bangladesh when Hasina was in power, arguing that these charges were politically motivated.
Credit: AP
A spokesperson for Yunus reportedly confirmed that he had accepted the students’ request to serve as an advisor to the interim government. The Nobel laureate is expected to return to Bangladesh “immediately” following a minor medical procedure in Paris.
The announcement comes as Shahabuddin has dissolved parliament earlier on Tuesday, following a meeting between protest organizers and the army chief. The president had previously assured the public that new elections would be held as soon as possible.
Student leaders have repeatedly emphasized their opposition to an army-led government, pledging to continue rallying until their demands are met.
“We have given our blood, been martyred, and we have to fulfill our pledge to build a new Bangladesh. No government other than the one proposed by the students will be accepted,” Islam was quoted as saying by the report.
The Students Against Discrimination movement, which initiated the protests, had issued an ultimatum demanding the dissolution of parliament, which was subsequently granted.
While the streets of the capital Dhaka remain in a relative calm following the announcement, tension remains high because the movement calls for a new interim government led by Yunus. They have also put forward a list of potential candidates for the role.
