Dhaka: Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has returned to Bangladesh to lead an interim government following a political crisis. Arriving in Dhaka on Thursday from Paris via Dubai, Yunus was welcomed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
At 84, Yunus steps in after student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. The protests, sparked by dissatisfaction with a job quota system, turned violent, resulting in nearly 300 deaths due to a harsh government response.
Yunus’s main task is to oversee the transition and ensure elections are held within 90 days of Parliament’s dissolution. He hailed the day as a “second independence” for Bangladesh. Renowned for founding Grameen Bank and pioneering microloans, Yunus was chosen for his neutrality and global reputation. Recently acquitted of politically motivated charges, he is expected to guide the country through this crucial period, with Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressing strong support for his leadership.
