Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed Bangladesh interim government head

Dhaka: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, Dhaka Tribune reported. Bangladesh President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin made the announcement.

The decision regarding the appointment of Bangladesh's interim government head was made during a meeting between President Shahabuddin and the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Joynal Abedin said that the remaining members of the interim government will be finalized after talks with various political parties, according to the Dhaka Tribune report.

Earlier, a 13-member team from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement traveled to Bangabhaban to discuss Bangladesh's current situation and the outline of the interim government, Dhaka Tribune reported. They traveled to Bangabhaban on Tuesday at 6 pm (local time) to call on the President and the chiefs of the three armed forces.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5.

The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.

A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Based on the decision from a meeting of President Shahabuddin with the heads of the three armed forces, leaders of various political parties, representatives of civil society, and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination movement, the national parliament was dissolved, a press release from the president's office stated.

It further said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been released from jail. The statement said that the process of releasing those detained in the student movement and various cases from July 1 to August 5 has begun, with many already being freed.

In a statement on Monday, the president's press team said that a meeting led by Shahabuddin had "decided unanimously" to free Khaleda Zia immediately.

"The meeting has also decided to free all the people who have been arrested during the student protests," the president's statement added.

In her first reaction after being released from jail, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia urged her countrymen to build a "democratic Bangladesh where all religions are respected".

In a video message in Bangla, Khaleda Zia said, "You have been praying for my health all this while. I am able to speak to you to due to the blessings of Allah. We have been able to get independence from this fascist government. I pay my obeisance to the brave ones who gave their lives."

 "We have to form a new Bangladesh from this victory where the youth and students will be our hope," she said.

Zia also warned against attacks on religious minorities. "We have to build a democratic Bangladesh where all religions are respected."

Khaleda Zia, 79, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) chairperson, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft in 2018 under the rule of Sheikh Hasina. She was released on executive order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday following the collapse of the Hasina-led Awami League government. (ANI)

 Also Read: Bangladesh unrest: Assam CM worried over likely influx and NE rebels gaining lost strength (sentinelassam.com)

Also Watch: