Bangladesh protesters want Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to take charge of the government

Bangladesh protesters demanded that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus be appointed as the head of a new interim government. This call came a day after long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country following weeks of deadly unrest.

In a video that organizer Naheed Islam shared on social media, it is said that Yunus had already been contacted by the leaders of the student protests and had consented to assume leadership in light of the current state of affairs in the nation.

The President of Bangladesh and the top military commander announced on Monday that an interim government would soon be formed.

Yunus, who described Hasina’s resignation as the country’s “second day of independence,” faced multiple corruption charges and was prosecuted during the former Prime Minister’s tenure. He won the Nobel Prize in 2006 for pioneering micro-lending and claimed that the corruption charges against him were politically motivated.

Naheed Islam mentioned that the student protesters would announce more names for the interim government, and it would be challenging for the current leadership to ignore their choices.

Hasina’s resignation and departure on Monday followed weeks of protests against the quota system for government jobs, posing a significant challenge to her 15-year rule. Thousands of protesters stormed her official residence and other buildings linked to her party and family.

Her departure raises the risk of further instability in the densely populated South Asian country, already grappling with crises from unemployment to corruption and climate change. Operations at the main airport in Dhaka were suspended due to security concerns.

On Tuesday, Dhaka’s streets were calm with no reports of new violence. Operations at Dhaka’s main Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport resumed after an eight-hour suspension on Tuesday.

According to media reports, at least 109 people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence that occurred immediately before and after Hasina’s resignation, though these reports could not be independently verified.

Also Read: Bangladesh protestors go on to demand that Hasina step down, with at least 50 deaths

The United News Agency of Bangladesh reported that 596 prisoners escaped from a jail in the southwestern district of Satkhira following an attack.

The jailbreak occurred on Monday evening amidst nationwide chaos, with attacks on police stations and security personnel across the country.

In Dhaka, police abandoned most of their stations due to fears of attacks after several were set on fire or vandalized. They regrouped in central barracks.

General Waqar Ul Zaman announced that he is temporarily taking control of the country as the military tries to curb the escalating unrest. Following a meeting with opposition politicians late on Monday, President Mohammad Shahabuddin declared that parliament would be dissolved and a national government formed as soon as possible, leading to new elections.

TV footage showed the embattled leader boarding a military helicopter with his sister. Addressing the nation, Waqar Ul Zaman assured the people that order would be restored, although experts cautioned that the path ahead would be long.

The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called for calm on Tuesday, describing the situation as a “transitional moment on our democratic path.”

Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman wrote on social media platform X, “It would defeat the spirit of the revolution that overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s illegitimate and authoritarian government if people decide to take the law into their own hands without due process.”

On Monday, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk stated that the transition of power in Bangladesh must be “in accordance with the country’s international obligations” and “inclusive and open for the meaningful participation of all Bangladeshis.”

Millions of people took to the streets waving flags and celebrating Hasina’s resignation. However, some celebrations soon turned violent as protesters attacked symbols of her government and party, vandalizing and setting fire to several buildings.

“This is not just the end of the tyrant Sheikh Hasina, but also the end of the mafia state she created,” declared Siraj Salkeen, a student protester, on the streets of Dhaka.

The protests began peacefully last month when frustrated students demanded the abolition of the quota system for government jobs, which they claimed favored members of Hasina’s Awami League party. However, amid a deadly crackdown, the protests escalated into an unprecedented challenge for Hasina, highlighting the extent of economic hardship in Bangladesh, where exports have declined, and foreign exchange reserves are dwindling.

Waqar Ul Zaman promised that the military would investigate the crackdown that has resulted in nearly 300 deaths since mid-July.

“Trust in the military. We will investigate all the deaths and hold those responsible accountable,” he said.

The military has a significant political influence in Bangladesh, having faced more than 20 coups or attempted coups since independence in 1971.

Throughout the day, people entered and exited Hasina’s official residence, where they set fires, vandalized furniture, and took raw fish from refrigerators. They also gathered outside the Parliament building, where a banner reading “Justice” was hung.

Crowds vandalized the family home museum of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s first president and independence leader, who was assassinated there.

According to the sources, Hasina landed at a military airbase near New Delhi on Monday after leaving Dhaka and met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The report stated that she was taken to a safe house and is likely to head to the UK.

The 76-year-old was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by her main opponents. Thousands of opposition members were jailed before the election, which the US and UK deemed not credible, although the government defended the result.

For an extended period, her rivals in politics had charged her with growing authoritarianism and held this as the cause of the disturbances. She was the longest-serving female head of state, having held the position for nearly 20 years.

In an interview with the BBC, Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy expressed his worries about his mother’s ability to return to politics, stating that she is “very disheartened after all her hard work.”