Bangladesh’s interim leader Yunus sworn in, seeks peace and prepares for elections
- The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace and preparing for elections after weeks of violence prompted former PM Hasina to step down
The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace in Bangladesh and preparing for new elections following weeks of violence in which student activists led an uprising against what was considered Hasina’s increasingly autocratic 15-year rule.
Bangladesh’s figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief adviser, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, in presence of foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka. No representatives of Hasina’s party were present.
Sixteen other people have been included in the interim Cabinet with members drawn mainly from civil society and including two of the student protest leaders.
Hasina quit on Monday after several chaotic weeks that began in July with protests against a quota system for government jobs that critics said favoured people with connections to Hasina’s party.