On Tuesday, Bangladesh Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus declared his readiness to lead a caretaker government, following the military’s takeover and the fleeing of longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina amid mass protests.
Yunus, 84, known for his groundbreaking work in microfinance that lifted millions out of poverty, has both earned the respect of many Bangladeshis and faced criticism from the ousted Hasina. Yunus stated, “If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it,” and called for “free elections.” This comes after student leaders urged him to head an interim government.
Hasina, 76, who had been in power since 2009, was accused of election rigging in January. In recent weeks, protests erupted across the country demanding her resignation. Over 400 people lost their lives in clashes with security forces as the unrest grew, culminating in Hasina fleeing by helicopter on Monday after the military turned against her.
The protests initially focused on job quotas for veterans’ families but expanded into broader calls for Hasina’s resignation. The military chief, General Wakeruz Zaman, announced on Monday that an interim government would be formed to halt the violence.
Today, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament, meeting a key demand from student leaders and the major opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), which has called for elections within three months. This decision followed consultations with defense leaders, political figures, and civil society representatives.
Additionally, Shahabuddin’s office confirmed that Hasina’s rival, BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was released from house arrest. Student protesters had warned of further demonstrations if parliament was not dissolved.
President Shahabuddin has stated that the interim government will hold elections soon after its formation. General Wakeruz Zaman is scheduled to meet with student leaders to discuss the interim government’s structure.
Hasina’s departure marks the end of her 15-year second term in office, having ruled Bangladesh for 20 of the past 30 years. Her tenure was part of a political legacy inherited from her father, state founder Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1975. Since the early 1990s, Hasina has alternated power with her rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, who inherited her political movement from her husband, Ziaur Rahman, assassinated in 1981.
Hasina is currently staying in a safe house near New Delhi, India. India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated that New Delhi had consistently urged restraint and dialogue to resolve the situation.
On Tuesday, Dhaka’s streets were quiet, with lighter traffic and many businesses and schools still closed. Garment factories, crucial to the economy and supplying global brands, remain shut, with reopening plans yet to be announced by the main garment manufacturers association.