Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to be chief adviser, say Bangladesh protesters

Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, known as ‘banker to the poor’ for his work in fighting poverty, will be the chief adviser to the interim government in Bangladesh, the coordinators of the student movement that led the protests in the country said, as per a report in the Daily Star.

In a video posted on social media, Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of the movement that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, said Professor Yunus had agreed to take on the responsibility considering the present situation of the country.

“We have decided that an interim government will be formed in which internationally renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, will be the chief adviser,” Nahid of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced.

The development comes as Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin said an interim government would be formed after dissolving the Parliament as widespread anarchy over a controversial quota system in government jobs led to the fall of the Hasina regime. Over 300 people have died in the month-long protest. The president also ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.