Bangladesh’s protest leaders have announced that the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is expected to be finalized on Wednesday following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and subsequent flight to India. This move comes after a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed Yunus as head of the interim government late Tuesday, responding to a major demand from student protesters. The interim government is expected to address the power vacuum left after the army chief’s televised announcement of Hasina’s resignation on Monday. The announcement followed weeks of unrest that resulted in approximately 300 deaths and thousands of injuries.
The interim administration will also oversee upcoming elections. Yunus is anticipated to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday after undergoing a medical procedure in Paris.
Nahid Islam, a key leader of the student movement, revealed that students have submitted an initial list of 10-15 recommended members for the interim government to the president. Islam expressed hope that the government will be finalized within 24 hours from late Tuesday. The student recommendations include representatives from civil society and the student community.
Additionally, Shahabuddin has suggested that a veteran from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war be included in the interim government. This political upheaval originated from protests against job quotas favoring families of war veterans, which critics argue were used to benefit allies of the ruling party.
Hasina has taken refuge in a safe house on the outskirts of New Delhi following her departure from Bangladesh on Monday.
