The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has vowed a crackdown on ‘conspirators’, who created anarchy and endangered the nation’s freedom, as the first call of duty.
In a televised interview shortly after being administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the presidential palace ‘Bangabhaban’, Yunus said, “As the first call of duty, we will control the conspirators…who have created an anarchic situation and panic to upset our freedom.”
Yunus took charge as the chief advisor, a position equivalent to the prime minister, days after Sheikh Hasina abruptly resigned and fled to India leaving the country in turmoil following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring nation’s new police chief, Mainul Islam, has instructed all police personnel to return to their respective police lines, offices, and barracks to ensure law and order.
Yunus, who was in Paris for the Olympic Games, returned to the country via Dubai on Thursday on an Emirates flight. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders, and civil society members welcomed him at the airport.
“Today is a day of our pride,” he said at an emotional press conference at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival. “We have got independence for the second time. We have to protect this independence.” He expressed gratitude to the youth who made the protest movement against Hasina successful and said he would like to stress first to “save the country from violence so that we can move forward on the path that the students have shown us.” He urged people from all walks of life to listen to him and said he agreed to take charge of the interim administration responding to the call of the students and youths.
“If you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that there will be no attack anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility,” he said at the crowded press briefing. “If I can’t do it and you do not listen to me, I don’t have any utility here.” He termed the anarchic activities and attacks on minority communities as “part of a conspiracy”.
“We have to form a government which assures safety to its citizens,” he said.
Yunus said the country was now in the hands of the young people.
“The nation is in your hands now. Now you have to rebuild it as per your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country,” he said.
“We need to change our state structure and remove all elements of fear from it so that people look at it and think that the state has been formed to safeguard them,” Yunus added.
Bangladesh witnessed deadly unrest in recent weeks. Over 500 people, including police personnel, were killed in the violence centring the students’ movement.
Many of those killed died after the Supreme Court backed student demands and largely scrapped the quota system last month.
Yunus also paid tribute to Abu Sayed, a student activist, who was among the first killed in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
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