‘If You Destabilize Bangladesh…’: Student Government Calls for Interim Government Under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus

Students from the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement have called for the formation of an interim government with Nobel Prize winner Dr Muhammad Yunus as its chief advisor.

The proposal was announced in a video early Tuesday morning by student leaders Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud and Abu Bakar Mazumdar, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Yunus told a news channel that there was an urgent need to restore law and order in Bangladesh, warning of potential spillover effects on neighbouring countries, including India.

After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power following a 45-minute ultimatum from the army, Yunus stressed the importance of maintaining peace and ensuring the festive mood did not degenerate into chaos.

“People should return home after the celebrations and from the morning everything should go on as usual,” he said.

Despite Hasina’s departure, Bangladesh continues to grapple with unrest. There have been violent clashes between protesters and Hasina’s Awami League supporters. Protesters ransacked the prime minister’s official residence, vandalized a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and set fire to a minister’s house.

Referring to the control of protesters and the potential consequences, Yunus said: “If you destabilize Bangladesh, it will spill over to everyone around, including Myanmar and the seven sisters in West Bengal.”

He warned of a “volcanic eruption” that could affect the region, especially with one million Rohingya already in the country.

Yunus highlighted the frustration among the youth, noting that many of them have never voted because of the lack of free elections. “You have to make sure that they are happy and law-abiding citizens and that they know that democracy exists,” he said. The current situation, Yunus said, requires engaging the youth population to ensure their participation in the democratic process.

The Bangladeshi army, now in control, has promised a peaceful resolution. Army chief General Wacker-Uz-Zaman has announced plans to form an interim government on the president’s advice and has appealed to protesters for peace.

The ongoing violence has led to more than 300 deaths since last month. Initially sparked by protests over government job reservations that favored the families of Bangladeshi freedom fighters, the situation escalated into demands for Hasina’s resignation after a harsh government crackdown.