Bangladesh President appoints Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of interim government

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has appointed Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of an interim government. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting President Shahabuddin had with chiefs of the three services and a 13-member delegation of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, in Dhaka yesterday. President’s Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin told media persons late last night that other members of the interim government will be finalised after consultations with various political parties. The President has also dissolved the Parliament. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that spearheaded the protests has earlier said that 84-year-old Yunus has agreed to head the interim government. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank. While the Army took charge on Monday, incidents of violence were reported overnight in many parts of the country and the death toll due to the unrest since mid-July rose to 440. At least 24 people were burnt alive in a hotel owned by a leader of the Awami League in the western Joshor district.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was released from house arrest. The 79-year-old former prime minister has long battled various ailments, including issues related to the kidney, lung and heart.