Bangladesh unrest: Muhammad Yunus to take oath as head of interim government

Bangladesh Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will take oath on Aug 8 at around 8 pm, even as authorities struggle to restore law and order in the turmoil-hit country.

Zaman said the advisory council may have 15 members. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus (84) who will head the interim government made a fervent appeal to people to stay calm and and be ready to rebuild the country.

“Armed forces will provide all possible support to Yunus,” Gen Zaman added.

Yunus has headed to Dhaka from Paris where he had been attending the Olympics and also for a medical procedure. "Yes, I am going back home and see what's happening there. We have to organize ourselves to get out of the trouble we are in,” Yunus told reporters at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport.

A mass uprising spearheaded by students in the country ended the 16-year autocratic rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. Bangladesh’s military chief will welcome Yunus at Dhaka’s main international airport.

Notably, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country following violent anti-government protests spearheaded by the Students Against Discrimination movement.

Bangladesh ex-premier and Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was freed from house arrest on August 6, said, “Love and peace will rebuild the nation the not anger or revenge,”

‘Heartbroken by the loss of lives’

Saima Wazed, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter August 8, said she was “heartbroken” by the loss of lives in her country and that she could not “see or hug” her mother during such a difficult time.
“Heartbroken with the loss of lives in my country that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time. I remain committed to my role as RD,” Wazed wrote on X.