Yunus: I will Help Make Students’ Dream for Bangladesh Come True
Source:https://www.bbc.co.uk/
Bangladesh’s new leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has stepped into the role of interim government head following the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Although Yunus, at 84, acknowledges that this leadership was not his personal aspiration or revolution, he accepted the position in response to a request from students who wanted him to fill the power vacuum. He has committed to leading the interim government to support the youth’s vision for the country.
Prof. Muhammad Yunus, who was sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader on Thursday, emphasizes that his role is to fulfill the dreams of the students who led the recent protests that resulted in the government’s fall. He is still assessing the challenges ahead, with the immediate concern being the security situation. The country is grappling with severe disruptions, including a police strike, widespread violence that resulted in over 400 deaths, and significant damage to police stations. Traffic is currently managed by students amid this crisis.
Prof. Yunus highlights that the initial student protests in Bangladesh began with a call to reform a quota system for public sector jobs reserved for the relatives of 1971 war heroes. The movement escalated into broader demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation following a violent and deadly crackdown by security services.
Prof. Yunus stresses the urgent need for reform in Bangladesh, especially regarding freedom of speech, which was severely curtailed under Sheikh Hasina’s government. He claims to have been a victim of this crackdown, citing a politically motivated six-month jail sentence. Yunus plans to involve students directly in government, with each ministry having a student representative as recognition of their role in the protests. Students Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, leaders of the anti-government demonstrations, are now part of his cabinet. Additionally, there is ongoing pressure from students for judicial reform, including calls for the resignation of the chief justice.
Prof. Yunus criticizes the judiciary for lacking independence and allegedly following orders from higher authorities, describing the chief justice as merely a “hangman” rather than an impartial leader. While he acknowledges that not all decisions under his leadership will be universally accepted, he promises to apply his organizational experience to improve governance. Yunus admits that his experience in managing organizations will guide his approach, despite knowing there will be both supporters and critics of his policies.
Image Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/
