New rule: Yunus (centre) taking the oath of office in Dhaka. — AFP
NOBEL Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn into office as Bangladesh’s interim leader, vowing to guide the country back to democracy after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.
Yunus, who only returned home hours earlier, swore to “uphold, support and protect the constitution”, in front of political and civil society leaders, generals and diplomats at the presidential palace.
“Today is a glorious day for us,” Yunus, 84, told reporters when he returned to Dhaka from Europe.
“Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence.”
Yunus called for the restoration of order in the South Asian nation after weeks of violence that left at least 455 people dead, calling on citizens to guard each other, including minorities who came under attack.
More than a dozen members of his Cabinet – given the title of advisers, not ministers – also took the oath.
The group included two top leaders of the Students Against Discrimination group that led the weeks-long protests, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud.
Hasina, accused of widespread human rights abuses including the jailing of her political opponents, was forced to flee to neighbouring India on Monday as masses of protesters flooded Dhaka’s streets.
The military then agreed to student demands that Yunus – who won the Nobel prize in 2006 for his pioneering microfinancing work – lead an interim government. During Hasina’s reign, Yunus was hit with more than 100 criminal cases and a smear campaign that accused him of promoting homosexuality. — AFP
