Nobel laureate Yunus assumes charge of interim govt in B’desh

Dhaka, August 8

Bangladesh’s Nobel Peace Prize winning economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of the country’s caretaker government on Thursday, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to quit and flee the country following violent protests.

Yunus, 84, was recommended for the role by student protesters and returned to Dhaka on Thursday from Paris.

A 16-member council of advisers was announced to assist Yunus in running the state's affairs. Md Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two key organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, were also part of the advisory council.

“The country has the possibility of becoming a very beautiful nation,” an emotional Yunus told reporters at the airport. “Whatever path our students show us, we will move ahead with that.”

The student-led movement that ousted Hasina grew out of protests against quotas in government jobs that spiralled in July, provoking a violent crackdown that drew global criticism. — Reuters

Ensure safety of minorities: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended best wishes to Muhammad Yunus as he took oath as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh, hoping for early return of normalcy and ensuring safety of Hindus and other minority communities in that country. In a post on X, Modi said, “India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development.” PTI