Nobel Peace Prize Winner to Lead Bangladesh’s Interim Government

Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, long-time political enemy of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinawas appointed interim leader of the country.

The 84-year-old’s appointment as the caretaker government’s chief adviser comes a day after Ms Hasina fled the country following weeks of deadly unrest.

While Prof Yunus has been praised for pioneering the use of micro-lending, Ms Hasina has branded him a public enemy and a local court recently sentenced him to prison in a case he described as politically motivated.

Students who led the protests said they would not accept a military-led government and pressed for Professor Yunus to head an interim administration.

The decision to appoint Prof. Yunus as Chief Advisor came after a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and student leaders.

“When students who have sacrificed so much ask me to intervene at this difficult time, how can I refuse?” said Prof. Yunus.

According to his spokesman, the man is returning from Paris to Dhaka, where he is undergoing a minor medical procedure.

In 1983, Prof. Yunus founded Grameen Bank, which offers small, long-term loans to help poor people start their own small businesses. The concept has since gained popularity around the world.

In 2006, Prof. Yunus and the bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

He is known internationally as the “banker of the poor”, but Ms Hasina has called him a “bloodsucker” of the poor and accused his bank of charging exorbitant interest rates.

In January, Prof. Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison for violating the country’s labor laws by failing to set up a social fund for his employees.

His supporters say the case is politically motivated, while Prof Yunus, who is appealing the verdict, said it “contradicts all legal precedents and logic”.

There were other cases against him, including tax evasion and working at Grameen Bank after reaching mandatory retirement age, but Prof. Yunus and his lawyer say they are unfounded.

The protests began in early July with peaceful demands by students to end civil service quotas, but later escalated into a broader anti-government movement.

It is estimated that more than 400 people died in clashes between government forces and protesters.

On Monday alone, more than 100 people were killed in violent clashes across the country, making it the deadliest day since protests began last month. Hundreds of police stations were also set on fire.

When protesters stormed and ransacked the prime minister’s official residence, Ms Hasina fled neighbouring India, ending nearly 15 years of rule.

Prominent opposition figures imprisoned under her rule, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia and activist Ahmad Bin Quasem, have since been released.

Ms Zia heads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which boycotted elections in 2014 and again in 2024, saying free and fair elections were not possible under Ms Hasina.

The 78-year-old served as prime minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and was jailed in 2018 for corruption, but has said the charges were politically motivated.

Human rights groups say Mr Quasem was abducted by security forces in 2016, just one of hundreds of enforced disappearances in the country under Ms Hasina’s rule.

Across the border in India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was “deeply concerned until law and order are visibly restored” in Bangladesh, which shares a 4,096-kilometer (2,545-mile) border and has close economic and cultural ties.

He gave the first official confirmation that Ms Hasina had “very quickly” applied to travel to India and had subsequently arrived in Delhi.

India also sent additional troops along the border with Bangladesh.

“Our border security forces have also been instructed to remain extra vigilant in view of this complex situation,” Mr Jaishankar said.

Foreign leaders urged Bangladesh to uphold democracy following Prof Yunus’ appointment.

“Any decisions made by the transitional government must respect democratic principles… to uphold the rule of law (and) reflect the will of the people,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on all parties to refrain from violence and “respect universal rights.”

“We call for a full, independent and impartial investigation into the events of recent weeks,” she added.