Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returns to crisis-hit Bangladesh to form interim government

Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has returned to Bangladesh to lead an interim government following days of bloody anti-government protests that forced the prime minister to flee the country and resign.

Yunus, 84, arrived in the capital Dhaka on a flight from Paris via Dubai shortly after 2:00 p.m. local time (0800 GMT) on Thursday to lead an interim government in Bangladesh, which had experienced days of unrest that claimed the lives of at least 366 people.

The protests, mostly held by students, began in early July against a quota system that reserved over half of all government jobs for certain groups. The unrest later escalated into wider calls for the resignation of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who finally stepped down and fled the country.

Yunus could be sworn in as Bangladesh’s new premier as soon as Thursday evening to begin what the army chief has vowed to be a “beautiful democratic process.”

“I’m looking forward to going back home, see what’s happening and how we can organize ourselves to get out of the trouble we are in,” he told reporters in Paris airport on Wednesday.

Yunus also urged people in the country to “refrain from all kinds of violence” after the mass uprising even included communal attacks.

The Bangladeshi entrepreneur, banker, economist and civil society leader had traveled abroad this year while on bail after being sentenced to six months in jail over charges of labor law violations.

He had rejected the allegations as politically-motivated. A Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted him of all the charges.

“Be calm and get ready to build the country,” Yunus said on Wednesday in a statement before beginning his journey back home from the French capital. “If we take the path of violence, everything will be destroyed.”

Bangladesh under control of military after Hasina resigns, flees

The military has taken power in Bangladesh after the longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee following mass protests.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said Wednesday that Yunus will take oath on Thursday evening and voiced support for him.

“I am certain that he will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process,” Waker said.

Yunus has stressed that he wanted to hold elections “within a few” months.

Millions of Bangladeshis took to the streets of the capital on Monday to celebrate the resignation of Hasina. However, the festivities were marred by violence, with protesters carrying out revenge attacks on Hasina's allies, storming parliament and setting fire to multiple buildings, including television stations.

Bangladesh has a long history of political upheaval and coups.

In 2007, the military staged a coup after widespread political unrest and backed a caretaker government that ruled the country for two years until Hasina took power. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk