The Nobel Peace Laureate who will be Bangladesh’s interim leader is set to be sworn in Thursday, Aug. 8. Muhammad Yunus was asked to step in after the country’s prime minister resigned and fled the country on Monday, Aug. 5, amid deadly anti-government protests.
Yunus had expressed support for the student-led protests that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
It all started with protests over the country’s job quota, which set aside more than half of government jobs for descendants of those who fought in Bangladesh’s war for independence. After violent clashes, the country’s Supreme Court scaled back the rule in late July but protests continued. More than 300 people were killed and thousands arrested over the course of the uprising.
Yunus was in France for what sources say was a “minor medical procedure” when he was tapped to lead the government. He spoke to reporters as he arrived at the airport to head home.
“I’m looking forward to going back home and seeing what’s happening there and how we can organize ourselves to get out of the trouble that we are in,” Yunus said.
When asked about when elections are expected to be held, Yunus didn’t have an answer.
“Well, I’ll go and talk to them. I’m just fresh in this whole area,” he said.
The interim prime minister has a big job ahead of him. He has to establish law and order in the wake of the protests, revive the economy — which has been rattled by these unprecedented protests — and pave the way for free and fair elections.
