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| Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus waves goodbye to the media at Charles de Gaulle’s airport in Roissy, north of Paris, on August 7, 2024. | Photo Credit: AP |
Bangladesh protests: Interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to take oath on August 8
Muhammad Yunusu asks youth to remain calm and get ready to build the country; Bangladesh Nationalist Party calls for immediate election
An interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus will take oath in Bangladesh at 8 p.m. on Thursday (April 8, 2024), Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said at a press conference on Wednesday (August 7, 2023).
The 84-year-old microfinance pioneer will arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on an Emirates flight from Dubai on Thursday (August 8, 2024) afternoon, the Yunus Center said in a press release.
Mr. Yunus asked the youth to be calm and get ready to build the country. “I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our ‘Second Victory Day’ possible and to the people for giving your total support to them. Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes,” he said in the statement.
The Labour Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) overturned a six-month jail sentence awarded to Mr. Yunus in a case filed over alleged violation of the labour law.
BNP holds rally
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main Opposition party when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in power, held a rally at Naya Paltan in Dhaka, where thousands of people gathered from different parts of the country.
Addressing the rally virtually from London, Tarique Rahman, BNP acting chairman and son of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, called for immediate election in the country. “The national election must be held immediately, and power must be handed over to the elected representatives,” he said.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said election should be held within three months.
In her first public speech since 2018, Ms. Zia, who joined the rally virtually, thanked the people for their “fight and prayers” and called for “love and peace” to rebuild the country, instead of “destruction and revenge”.
“Youth are our future. We need to build a democratic Bangladesh newly to fulfil their dream, and for which they shed their blood.,” said Ms. Zia. “No destruction, no anger and no revenge, we need love and peace to rebuild our country.”
Breakdown in chain of command
The situation in the country is yet to normalise. Vandalism and looting persisted in some areas, with security forces struggling to stabilise the unrest. Key Ministry and department secretaries have stopped attending office, causing a near standstill in the functioning of the Bangladesh Secretariat. Many officials and employees affiliated to the Awami League have been absent. Numerous influential officials have gone into hiding, switching off their phones and cutting off communication with their offices, leaving their subordinates without guidance. This has led to a breakdown in the chain of command.
In the absence of traffic police on duty, students and volunteers were seen managing traffic in various parts of the capital and other districts on Wednesday as well. The capital city of Dhaka continued to see rallies by different political groups.
Business leaders raise concern
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. MCCI president Kamran T Rahman said, “If such a situation continues, trade, business, and investment will have a huge negative effect. This will also create hindrances to job creation.”
Business leaders across the country also raised concerns about ongoing destructive activities targeting industrial and commercial establishments.
Maintain law and order: President
President Mohammed Shahabuddin asked the police to become stricter in tackling the anarchic situation and looting in the country.
“Each police member should maintain the ‘chain of command’ and perform their duties with high morale and bravery. And the IGP must take necessary steps in this regard,” he said when the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP), Md Mainul Islam, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.
Congratulating the new IGP, Mr. Shahabuddin said the role of the police is very important in maintaining law and order in the country and ensuring the safety of people’s lives and properties. The President said that in the prevailing situation, normalisation of the law and order in the country is most important.⍐
