Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of Bangladesh's interim government

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn into office on Thursday (August 8) to lead Bangladesh's interim government as its chief adviser, days after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of South Asian country's founding father Mujibur Rahman.

"I will uphold, support and protect the constitution," Yunus said during the swearing-in ceremony, adding that he would perform his duties "sincerely".

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban in a ceremony that started at 9 pm.

Out of 16 other council members of the interim government council, 13 took oaths, since three membersBidhan Ranjan Roy, Farooq-e-Azam and Supradip Chakma were outside of Dhaka.

"Today is a glorious day for us," the84-year-old told reporters hours earlier on August 8 on hisreturnto Dhaka from Europe.

"Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a secondindependence."

Yunuscalled for the restoration of law and order after weeks of violence that left at least 455 people dead.

"Law and order is ourfirsttask... We cannot take a step forward unless we fix the law and order situation," he said.

"My call to the people is if you have trust in me, then make sure there will be no attacks against anyone, anywhere inthecountry."

"Every person is our brother... our task is toprotectthem,"Yunussaid, adding that "the whole of Bangladesh is one big family".

Indian PM Modi says 'committed' to working with Dhaka

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his "best wishes" toYunuson Thursday, saying New Delhi was "committed" to working with neighbouring Dhaka.

My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Bangladesh has no prime minister or ministers. Here's why

After Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to neighbouring India, Bangladesh had no elected government between August 5 to August 8. The interim government has no prime minister or ministers per se. An interim government, which in this case isled by Yunus, will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government.

Also watch |Bangladesh Crisis: Can Muhammad Yunus save Bangladesh? | Inside South Asia

Along with Yunus, morethan a dozen members of his cabinet, who are titled advisers, not ministers, also took the oath.

They included top leaders of the Students Against Discrimination group that led the weeks-long protests, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud.

Others included a former foreign secretary and a former attorney general, an environmental lawyer, and prominent rights activist Adilur Rahman Khan who was sentenced to two years in jail during Hasina's rule.

During Hasina's years in power,Yunuswas hit with more than 100 criminal cases and a smear campaign by a state-led Islamic agency that accused him of promoting homosexuality.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said Wednesday he supportedYunus.

"I am certain that he will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process," Waker said.

(With inputs from agencies)