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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader, vowing to “uphold, support and protect the constitution”.
The 84-year-old took an oath at the presidential palace in Dhaka along with more than a dozen members of his new cabinet, vowing to perform his duties “sincerely”.
He flew into the capital, Dhaka, just days after Sheikh Hasina – the woman who ruled Bangladesh with an iron fist for 15 years – fled across the border to India.
Ms Hasina resigned as prime minister after weeks of student-led protests – which left hundreds dead – escalated and culminated in calls for her to stand down.
The decision to name Prof Yunus as chief adviser of the interim government followed a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and student leaders.
The students had been clear they would not accept a military-led government, but wanted Prof Yunus to lead.
Among his new cabinet are Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, students who led the anti-government protests.
The hope is Prof Yunus, the so-called banker for the poor, will bring democracy back to Bangladesh after years of autocratic rule.
“People are excited,” the entrepreneur and economist told the BBC moments after arriving in Dhaka from France on Thursday
Central Bank Governors Pushed out
Protesting staffers have stormed the office of Bangladesh Central Bank Governor and forced the resignation of Deputy Governors, media reports said days after the Prime Minister was ousted in the wake of two years of monetary instability and a plunging currency.
Around 200 Bangladesh Bank workers came to the offices around 1030 am and demanded their resignation, The Daily Star reported, while more were holding placards at the front of the building.
Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder was not in office at the time, but two Deputy Governors, Kazi Saidur Rahman and Nurun Nahar, were forced to sign resignation letters on blank sheets of paper and then left with the help of army officials, the Financial Express reported.
