Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been proposed as the chief advisor of a new interim government in Bangladesh amid ongoing student protests. Yunus is a distinguished social entrepreneur, banker, economist, and civil society leader who gained international recognition in 2006 when he and the Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their pioneering work in microcredit and microfinance.
In a social media video, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the campaign that led to Sheikh Hasina’s removal, stated that Professor Yunus volunteered to take on the responsibility due to the country’s current condition.
“We have decided that an interim government will be formed in which internationally renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, will be the chief adviser,” Nahid of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced.
The protesters have called for an interim government with Yunus as its chief adviser to address the ongoing unrest and violence that has resulted in over 300 deaths since last month.
Despite facing legal challenges, including a recent jail sentence related to labor law violations and an embezzlement case involving Grameen Telecom, Yunus remains an influential figure in Bangladesh’s socio-political landscape. He has stressed the importance of maintaining peace and ensuring that the celebratory mood doesn’t turn chaotic, warning of potential spillover effects into neighboring countries.
The Bangladeshi army, now in control, has pledged a peaceful resolution and announced plans to form an interim government with the President’s advice. However, the road ahead remains uncertain as Bangladesh continues to face unrest and violence, with protesters ransacking the Prime Minister’s official residence, vandalizing the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and setting a minister’s house on fire.
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