Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh's interim government

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has beenselected to lead Bangladesh's interim government on Tuesday (Aug 6). The move came after his name was backed by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin took the decision after a critical security meeting, a day after now ex-PM Sheikh Hasina tendered her resignation and fled the South Asian country. She is currently staying in India at a safe location and is expected to ask for refuge in the United Kingdom.

A statement issued by the president's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said more members of the interim cabinet will be selected after consultations with various political parties.

Who isMuhammad Yunus?

Muhammad Yunus is hailed as the banker of the poor in Bangladesh. The 84-year-old leader is credited withlifting millions out of poverty,earning the enmity of ousted Hasina and the wide respect of millions of Bangladeshis.

"If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it," he was quoted as saying byAFP earlier. He also called for holding 'free elections' in the country.

Student protestors had long been recommending his name to be the leader of the interim government.

"In Dr. Yunus, we trust," Asif Mahmud, a key leader of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group, wrote on Facebook.

Military shake-up

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh military chief undertook a major reshuffling Tuesday, as he demoted several generals seen close to Hasina. A top commander of the United States-sanctionedRapid Action Battalion paramilitary force was also demoted by the government.

Bangladesh was comparatively calm on Tuesday after days of deadly violence;with traffic resuming, shops opening and international flights resuming at Dhaka's airport.

(With inputs from agencies)