Student Leaders Demand Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus as Interim Chief Amid Bangladesh Turmoil

Bangladesh is on the brink of forming a new interim government following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s resignation and departure from the country amid widespread protests and a military takeover. President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened a critical meeting, attended by military chiefs and opposition leaders, to discuss the establishment of a caretaker government. Student leaders, who initially protested job quotas and later demanded Hasina’s resignation, have proposed Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus as the interim chief advisor. Yunus has reportedly agreed to this role.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman, addressing the nation, confirmed Hasina’s resignation and the military’s intent to form an interim government to restore order and stabilize the economy. Hasina, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana, left Dhaka for India and is expected to seek asylum in the UK.

India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar held an all-party meeting to discuss the developments in Bangladesh and India’s response. International calls for calm have come from the US and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging a peaceful transition. The protests, which began in early July, have resulted in over 400 deaths, including nearly 100 on Sunday alone, marking a significant period of unrest in Bangladesh.