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PremiumNobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday. This follows protests that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week. Yunus took the oath of office as chief adviser, administered by figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Yunus and referenced reports of violence targeting Hindus in the Muslim-majority nation.
Addressing the media shortly after his appointment, Yunus emphasised his primary goal of restoring order. "Bangladesh is like a family, and we need to unite it," he stated.
The departure of Hasina has raised concerns about further instability in a country of approximately 170 million people already grappling with high unemployment, corruption, and a complex strategic relationship with India, China, and the United States. Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina's son and an adviser to his mother, has pledged that the Awami League party will remain active in Bangladeshi politics despite recent attacks on the party.
The unrest has persisted since Hasina's resignation on Monday, with ongoing violence resulting in the deaths of dozens of police officers and a nationwide halt in police operations.
