Two students feature in 17-member transitional administration following deadly protests that led to Hasina’s ouster
DHAKA: Muhammad Yunus, the renowned Nobel laureate and pioneer of microfinance, has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s 17-member transitional government. This development marks a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape following the recent resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the dissolution of her Awami League government.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the presidential office in Dhaka, conducted by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. At 84, Yunus assumes the role of “chief adviser” to the transitional administration, which is predominantly composed of technocrats. This interim government includes 16 advisers with notable backgrounds, such as former governor of Bangladesh’s central bank Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Retired Brigadier General M. Sakhawat Hossain, Dhaka University professor Asif Nazrul, human rights advocate Adilur Rahman Khan, attorney and environmentalist Syeda Rezwana Hasan, and women’s rights activist Farida Akhtar.
In addition, the transitional team features two student leaders from the recent protests that led to Hasina’s resignation and departure to India. Yunus, who was abroad in France during the crisis, returned to Dhaka on Thursday and acknowledged the pivotal role of students in the political upheaval. “Bangladesh has begun a new chapter. We are thankful to those who made this possible; they (students) saved the country,” Yunus stated upon his return. The protests, which erupted in July, were triggered by controversies surrounding civil service job quotas and resulted in over 400 fatalities.
The unrest led President Shahabuddin to dissolve the parliament elected earlier this year, in which Hasina had secured her fourth term. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the primary opposition group, has called for national elections within three months to ensure a return to democratic governance. The formation of the transitional government was announced by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman following Hasina’s departure. The new administration is expected to navigate the country through this period of political uncertainty and oversee the preparation for upcoming national elections.
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