DHAKA: Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday.
The ceremony, held at the presidential palace in Dhaka, was presided over by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and attended by political leaders, civil society figures, military officials, and diplomats.
The role of chief adviser, which Yunus assumes, is equivalent to that of a prime minister. During the swearing-in ceremony, Yunus pledged to “uphold, support, and protect the constitution” and promised to perform his duties “sincerely.”
In addition to Yunus, more than a dozen members of his cabinet took their oaths as advisers. Among them were Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, prominent leaders of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement that led the recent protests. Other new advisers include Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, and Hassan Ariff, a former attorney general. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an award-winning environmental lawyer, and Asif Nazrul, a renowned law professor and writer, were also sworn in. Adilur Rahman Khan, a noted human rights activist who had been imprisoned by the previous government, also joined the cabinet.
Earlier in the day, Yunus returned to Dhaka from France, where he had been undergoing a minor medical procedure, aboard Emirates flight EK-582. His arrival was marked by a warm welcome from Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman and key figures from the student movement that played a central role in the recent upheaval.
Yunus, a staunch critic of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was nominated for the chief adviser role by the student protesters who had campaigned against Hasina. The interim government, which Yunus will lead, was established following Hasina’s resignation and subsequent departure from the country on August 5, prompted by a widespread student-led uprising.
Hasina’s resignation came after a period of intense protests and unrest, leading to her fleeing to India. Her Awami League party was excluded from all-party talks led by General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who announced Hasina’s resignation on Monday. Her sudden departure sparked both celebrations and chaos across Bangladesh, with crowds storming her official residence.
