Dhaka: Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in today (Thursday, August 8) as the leader of Bangladesh‘s interim government, days after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned following violent month-long protests against quotas for government jobs. The announcement was made by the nation’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman. Yunus who was currently in Paris for the Olympics when he was named as the head appealed to the people to maintain peace. “Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country,” he said.
This comes as suspense over what’s next for Sheikh Hasina continues. The former prime minister took shelter in India after she fled Bangladesh. As per initial reports, they suggested that she tried taking asylum in the UK but no decision was made. Meanwhile, India extended its hand to the neighbouring country in maintaining peace. EAM Jaishankar called an all-party meeting where he briefed the parties about the ongoing development in Bangladesh. “Appreciate the unanimous support and understanding that was extended.”
Here are the top points of developments related to Bangladesh:
Army chief Zaman said that the advisory council will be led by Yunus and may have 15 members. Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday appointed the 84-year-old to head the interim government after the violent ouster of former Prime Minister Hasina.”We are making every effort to hold the oath-taking ceremony tomorrow (Thursday). There was a proposal to hold it in the afternoon. However, that would result in a very tight schedule because Dr Yunus is expected to arrive in the country around 2:10 pm. It would be difficult to arrange the ceremony after that. Therefore, we may hold it around 8 pm. The arrangement will accommodate a total of 400 people,” the Army Chief said in a televised address to the nation.As per Nahid Islam, one of the leaders of Students Against Discrimination participated in the meeting.In the latest developments, the BSF personnel stopped 120-140s Bangladeshi nationals who tried crossing the Indian border from multiple locations in Darjeeling. A representative for the frontier headquartered in Darjeeling’s Kadamtala said, “The individuals gathered were primarily motivated by fears of local unrest. The BSF, in coordination with the BGB, and Bangladeshi civil authorities has reassured these individuals of their safety and encouraged them to return to their homes.”Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said, “The incident in Bangladesh is a matter of concern for us for two reasons. Firstly, if this turmoil continues, then the people of Bangladesh will come to India. We need to make our borders safe. Secondly, all extremists of the North East were removed from Bangladesh during the rule of Shiekh Haseena.”Meanwhile, former PM Khaleda Zia urged calm saying that there is a need to rebuild the nation. “No destruction, no anger, and no revenge, we need love and peace to rebuild our country.”Ahead of Hasina’s resignation, over 100 people including 14 officials were killed. The protests intensified after the residences of former ministers and MPs of Hasina’s government were looted, vandalised.Sheikh Hasina who is temporarily taking shelter in India following her ouster from Bangladesh in the wake of a military coup, may leave the country in the next 48 hours. She is likely to travel to the United Kingdom.Saima Wazed, daughter of the ex-PM in a post on X said, “Heartbroken with the loss of life 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.”
Nobel Laureate M Yunus to be Sworn in Today as Head of B’desh Interim Government | Top Points world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
