Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. 84-year-old Yunus was administered the oath of office by President Mohammad Shahabuddin at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace ‘Bangabhaban’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Muhammad Yunus on becoming the head of the interim government. In his congratulatory message, PM Modi has written, India is committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the common aspirations of the people of both our countries.
Yunus, a 2006 Nobel laureate, was appointed head of an interim government on Tuesday after President Mohammad Shahabuddin dissolved parliament, following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister on Monday and her departure from the country amid widespread protests against the reservation system.
Prof. Yunus and other members of his interim government were also administered the oath of office and secrecy by Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin at the Durbar Hall of Ganabhaban. In this interim government, Prof. Muhammad Yunus will be the chief advisor, while Syeda Rizwana Hasan will be the chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). Those who took oath also included women rights activist Farida Akhtar, founder of Odhikar Adilur Rahman Khan, AFN Khalid Hussain Naib-e-Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam and advisor of Islamic Movement Bangladesh, Noor Jahan Begum Gramin Telecom Trustee, Sharmin Murshid freedom fighter, Supradip Chakma.
The demand to make Dr Yunus the head of the interim government was raised by the student organizations of Bangladesh. They had warned all political parties including the army that they would not accept anyone else being made the head. In such a situation, Dr Yunus, who was abroad, reached Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon and met the head of the armed forces, members of civil society and student leaders at Dhaka airport.
