After the series of mass demonstrations that led to Bangladesh’s successive Prime Minister Sheikh further describing Hasina as a fugitive from the country, the Bangladeshi Nobel Peace prize laureate and world-renowned economist Muhammad Yunus has expressed his preparedness to steer the interim government.
In an interview with AFP, the 84-year-old microfinancing pioneer commented, “I am honored by the trust of the protesters who want me to form the interim government for Bangladesh. Whatever action is needed in my country for my people for the courage of the Bengalis, I shall take.
As a social business leader, Kiva’s founder, and the famous “banker to the poorest of poor,” Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for offering small funds to women living in rural areas to help them invest in farm instruments or business-related tools.
The student leaders in Bangladesh have already demanded Yunus to form a caretaker government; the military stepped in the next day as the protests ousted Hasina from Bangladesh. Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, was accused of manipulating the elections that were held earlier in January; this caused further movement and protests in the country.
In a statement, Yunus supported liberal elections and declared, ‘There will be no change without elections; lasting peace will only come with free elections. On the occasion, he congratulated the Bangladeshi youth and said that they have made Bangladesh proud and shown the world our nation’s determination against injustice.
When asked about the proposition of remaining out of politics in the past, Yunus mentioned that he was willing to take up the post of head of state if the situation “demands” it. At this stage, the country is interested in observing the next steps in this still-unfolding political crisis, especially regarding Yunus’s potential as a transitional leader.
