Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh interim government
- Decision to form interim government helmed by microfinance pioneer Yunus was taken at meeting of President Shahabuddin and military leaders
The appointment came quickly after student leaders called on the 84-year-old Yunus – credited with lifting millions out of poverty in the South Asian country – to lead, and he said he was ready to do so.
The decision “to form an interim government with … Yunus as its chief” was taken at a meeting of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and the heads of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group, Shahabuddin’s press office said.
“The president has asked the people to help ride out the crisis. Quick formation of an interim government is necessary to overcome the crisis,” it said in a statement, adding that the national police chief had been sacked.
Yunus will have the title of chief adviser, according to SAD leader Nahid Islam.
Shahabuddin agreed that the interim government “will be formed within the shortest time” possible, Islam told reporters.
