DHAKA, Bangladesh – Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh from France on Thursday, as a transitional government prepares to take oath.
Upon landing at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Yunus proclaimed that Bangladesh has achieved independence for the second time under the leadership of its youth. “Bangladesh has started a new victory day. We have to move on. We are thankful to those who did it, they (students) saved the country,” he said, reflecting on the students who sacrificed their lives during the nationwide protests that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Since early July, Bangladesh has seen large-scale student protests against controversial civil service job quotas, resulting in over 400 deaths.
Yunus condemned the attacks on minorities, calling them part of a conspiracy to destabilize the country, and urged people to actively prevent such incidents.
At the airport, Yunus was received by army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman, student representatives, civil society members, and security officials. Yunus is set to head the transitional government.
On Wednesday, the army chief announced that a 15-member transitional government would be sworn in on Thursday.
Yunus, known as Dr. Yunus, is Bangladesh’s sole Nobel laureate and a celebrated global figure, having received honors such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his contributions to economic development and poverty reduction.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the national parliament after Hasina fled to India amid the student-civilian uprising.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held a large rally in Dhaka on Wednesday, where party chairperson Khaleda Zia addressed the nation, calling for restraint. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded a national election within three months to return power to the people’s representatives.–News Desk