Bangladesh gets interim government
By IAR Desk
An interim government has been sworn in on Thursday, August 8, in Bangladesh. Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of it.
Eighty-four years old Yunus is the pioneer of the global microcredit movement and founder of The Grameen Bank, which won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for helping lift millions from poverty through the micro-credit system.
He will now have to bring stability back to the country and enable conditions for free and fair elections within three months, as stipulated by the Bangladesh constitution.
Bangladesh has been in the throes of violence and anarchy for weeks, forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to quit and flee to neighbouring ld not be forgotten.
People cheered Hasina’s exodus on the streets of Dhaka, which has seen bloodletting, looting, and scenes of violence. Hasinas palace compound was also looted by rioters after the military refused to fire at them.
Members of the minority communities, especially Hindus, who have traditionally supported the Awami League as it was deemed “secular” have been targeted. Temples and Hindu run businesses have been attacked leaving one dead and several injured.
Hasina’s flight from the country she ruled for 20 of the last 30 years after winning a fourth term in January triggered jubilation and violence as crowds stormed and ransacked her official residence.
Reuters reported that the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said a schoolteacher was killed and 45 other people hurt.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus and 13 advisers who will help him govern, at a brief ceremony in the official presidential residence.
rime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yunus and said New Delhi was committed to working with Dhaka. He also called on Younus to ensure the safety and protection of all minorities and H8ndus. “We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities,” he said.
The movement that ousted Hasina out of office began with students-led protests against reimposition of quotas in government jobs, that seemed to favour the then ruling Awami League. It was significantly infiltrated by members of the opposition and radical Jamaat-e-Islami organization that had been banned by Hasina. Excessive use of force by security personnel caused it to blow out of proportion.
Hasina remains in India. The US has revoked her visa and the UK, where she was believed to proceed to fr9m India, has refused her asylum.
The Indian government has said it was for Hasina to decide where she wanted to proceed to.
– With input from agencies
