Following Sheikh Hasina’s removal amid widespread demonstrations, Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate for pioneering microfinance in Bangladesh, has been selected as the leader of the military-backed temporary government.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman met late last night with student leaders whose protest movement resulted in Ms. Hasina’s removal. During their meeting, the decision was made “to form an interim government with Muhammad Yunus as its chief,” according to a statement from the President’s office.
A number of generals have been reshuffled by the Bangladeshi Army, with some who were perceived as sympathetic to Sheikh Hasina being demoted. Ziaul Ahsan, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion, has also been fired. Yesterday saw the 78-year-old former prime minister and BNP leader Khaleda Zia be freed from years of house arrest.
Since the Sheikh Hasina government’s overthrow, rights organisations have claimed that hundreds of Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been vandalised.
Monday night, Ms. Hasina, 76, was compelled to step down as prime minister following weeks of protests against a jobs quota that claimed the lives of over 400 people. It is said that she left Dhaka after receiving a 45-minute ultimatum from the Bangladesh Army.
According to individuals acquainted with the situation, Ms. Hasina is not expected to leave India for a few days after landing at the Hindon airbase, which is close to Delhi, on Monday on a military aircraft from Bangladesh.
Sources had said she wanted to go to London to claim sanctuary, but her son Sajeeb Wazed has dismissed the speculation. Asked about multiple reports about UK’s “silence” her request for asylum and revocation of her visa by the US, Mr Wazed said, “The reports about her requesting asylum are incorrect. She has not requested asylum anywhere. So the question of UK or US not responding yet is not true”.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stated yesterday that Sheikh Hasina is being given time by the government to “recover” and inform them of her next course of action. “At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from the Bangladesh authorities,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Jaishankar updated the leaders of all parties on the state of affairs in the country that has been rocked by violence as well as the actions the Indian government has taken to handle possible security, economic, and diplomatic fallout.
In light of the violence, he stated that the administration is in communication with the Bangladeshi Army to guarantee the security of Indian citizens and other minorities residing in Bangladesh.
The protests against civil service job quotas that started in June turned into some of the worst turmoil during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure and expanded into calls for the 76-year-old’s resignation.
