Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of Bangladesh’s interim government

Nobel Peace laureate says he will perform his duties ‘sincerely’ following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.

Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government.

Yunus, 84, took oath at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday night after weeks of student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to neighbouring India.

“I will uphold, support and protect the constitution,” Yunus said during the ceremony, adding that he would perform his duties “sincerely”.

The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace in Bangladesh and preparing for new elections.

Bangladesh’s figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief advisor, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, in presence of foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka.

No representatives of Hasina’s party were present.

Sixteen other people have been included in the interim Cabinet with members drawn mainly from civil society and including two of the student protest leaders. The Cabinet members Yunus as interim leader were chosen in discussions this week among student leaders, civil society representatives and the military.

Hasina quit on Monday after several chaotic weeks that began in July with protests against a quota system for government jobs that critics said favoured people with connections to Hasina’s party.

Source: ALJAZEERA