Muhammad Yunus declares ‘monster is gone,’ referring to ex-PM Sheikh Hasina

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus last Thursday (Aug8) took oath as the head of Bangladesh's interim government. On Sunday (Aug11) night, Yunus had a meeting with students who spearheaded protests against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After the meeting, Yunus addressed reporters and said, "Finally, this moment, the monster is gone" referring to former PM Hasina, who fled from the country after a series of protests by students.

"The moment you start taking decisions, some people will like your decisions, some people will not like your decisions," he said. "...that's the way it works," warning the interim government that public support is finite and they will encounter many tough choices in the future.

Yunus, praising the students for their efforts said, "There is no doubt... because of the student-led revolution the whole government collapsed."

"I said (to the students), 'I respect you... I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparalleled... and because you ordered me to do this (to take charge of the interim administration) I accept...'," he added.

Two student activists, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are members of a 16-person advisory council that took their oaths alongside Yunus.

The 84-year-old, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in microfinance and establishing the Grameen Bank for community development, emphasised that the recent resignations of top public figures, such as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the head of Bangladesh's central bank, were "conduct legally."

"They want to have a new court. So they went there and asked the chief justice to resign and put their pressure to make him resign," he said referring to the students.

"I'm sure they will find the legal way to justify all of this, because legally... all the steps were followed," he added.

After weeks of unrest and violent clashes sparked by protests over a jobs quota, an interim government was established in Bangladesh, leading to the resignation and flight of Hasina, who has served as Prime Minister five times.

Sheikh Hasina left her residence in Dhaka just hours before it was overtaken, on a Bangladeshi military aircraft to India. The 76-year-old, viewed as a significant ally of New Delhi, is currently in an undisclosed location, with reports suggesting she may seek political asylum, potentially in the United Kingdom.

(With inputs from agencies)