Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, a longtime political adversary of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been named the country’s interim leader.
The 84-year-old was appointed a day after Ms. Hasina fled the country following weeks of deadly protests that led to her resignation.
While Professor Yunus is acclaimed for his pioneering use of microloans, Ms. Hasina regarded him as a public enemy. He is currently out on bail, appealing against a six-month jail term in what he has called a politically-motivated case.
The students who led the mass protests that unseated Ms. Hasina refused to accept a military-led government and advocated for Professor Yunus to head the interim administration.
The decision to appoint Professor Yunus as chief adviser of the interim government came after a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders, and student leaders.
“When the students who sacrificed so much are requesting me to step in at this difficult juncture, how can I refuse?” Prof Yunus had said.
He is returning to Dhaka from Paris, where he is undergoing a minor medical procedure, according to his spokesperson.
The protests in Bangladesh began in early July with university students demanding the abolition of quotas in civil service jobs, but quickly escalated into a broader anti-government movement.
More than 400 people have reportedly died in clashes between government forces and protesters, with most of the casualties being civilians shot by police. On Monday alone, over 100 people died across the country, marking the single deadliest day of the movement. Hundreds of police stations were also torched.
Hours before protesters stormed and looted the former prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka, Ms. Hasina resigned and fled to neighboring India, ending her nearly 15-year rule.
Despite economic growth in the past decade, Ms. Hasina faced increasing criticism for silencing her critics and jailing her political opponents. Some of these opponents, including ex-PM Khaleda Zia and activist Ahmad Bin Quasem, were released soon after Ms. Hasina’s departure.
Ms. Zia, who chairs the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), boycotted the 2014 and 2024 elections, claiming that free and fair polls were not possible under Ms. Hasina’s rule. The 78-year-old was imprisoned in 2018 on corruption charges, which she said were politically motivated.
Rights groups claim Mr. Quasem was detained in 2016, one of hundreds of forced disappearances during Ms. Hasina’s tenure. Professor Yunus, who was sentenced to six months in jail in January for violating labor laws, has also claimed to be a victim of Ms. Hasina’s vendetta.
Professor Yunus has faced various allegations over the years, including accusations in 2011 of defaming Bangladesh’s politicians. In 1983, he founded Grameen Bank, which offers microloans to help poor people start small businesses. This concept has since been adopted worldwide.
Despite being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, along with Grameen Bank, for demonstrating that “even the poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own development,” Professor Yunus was accused of tax evasion and serving at Grameen Bank beyond the mandatory retirement age. These accusations led to his dismissal, although he maintained the charges were baseless.
Internationally known as the “banker to the poor,” Professor Yunus was labeled a “bloodsucker” of the poor by Ms. Hasina, who accused his bank of charging exorbitant interest rates. The origin of their feud is unclear, but many believe it stemmed from his unsuccessful attempt to establish a political party.
Ms. Hasina remains in India, but it is uncertain if that is her final destination. Analysts suggest this is unlikely, despite her close alliance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India, sharing a 4,096-km (2,545-mile) border with Bangladesh, will likely avoid alienating the new government in Dhaka.
India has deployed additional troops along the border, according to its foreign minister, S. Jaishankar. Following the announcement of Professor Yunus’s appointment, foreign leaders have called on Bangladesh to uphold democracy.
“Any decisions that the interim government makes, they need to respect democratic principles… to uphold the rule of law [and] reflect the will of the people,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong asked all parties to refrain from violence and “respect universal rights”.
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