Dhaka: Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Muhammad Yunus was on Thursday evening sworn in as Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government.
The development comes after weeks of intense and violent student protests that led to hundreds of deaths and three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and escaped to India.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the new government at his official residence, Bangabhaban. The ceremony started with Bangladesh’s national anthem ‘Amar Shonar Bangla’, which was written by Rabindranath Tagore.
Arrangements were made for 400 people to attend the swearing-in ceremony, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
The 84-year-old Yunus was received by senior Army officials at Dhaka airport on arrival from Paris, where he underwent medical treatment.
Yunus urged calm and appealed to the people of Bangladesh to “get ready to build the country.”
Yunus, arriving in Dhaka from Paris, has urged calm and appealed to Bangladeshis to “get ready to build the country.” Meanwhile, Hasina, who fled to India, is seeking asylum in Europe. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two student leaders who are both in their mid-20s and led the protests, will join the caretaker government, local media reported.
Yunus apart, 16 other advisers were named in the interim government, according to Prothom Alo newspaper.
Meanwhile, ousted PM Hasina is still in India as she explores her options.
Her son Sajeed Wazed has blamed Pakistan’s ISI for fuelling unrest in Bangladesh.
“Indian government must build up international pressure for swift restoration of democracy in Bangladesh,” Wazed told PTI.
Indian visa application centres said its offices will remain closed till further notice.
