Bangladesh’s Interim Government Formation Amidst Turmoil
Bangladesh is poised to inaugurate an interim administration on Thursday, just days after a wave of protests led to the ousting of its long-standing leader. The political landscape has been thrown into disarray, with the country grappling with violence and uncertainty following the departure of Sheikh Hasina, who fled amid escalating unrest.
The anticipated leader of the interim government is Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is expected to arrive from Paris, where he has been attending the Olympics. Mr. Yunus is scheduled to be sworn in alongside a diverse group of over a dozen members of the interim administration later in the evening.
At 84 years old, Mr. Yunus is celebrated for his innovative approach to microfinance, which has provided small loans to women and the rural poor, enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty. His immediate and formidable challenge will be to restore stability and order to a nation that has been left reeling from the abrupt collapse of government authority.
The former leader, Sheikh Hasina, had consolidated power in a deeply centralized system that undermined the parliamentary framework designed to facilitate seamless leadership transitions. Her administration had intensified a crackdown on dissent, which led to approximately 400 fatalities during the protests. With her departure, the government’s structure has crumbled, resulting in widespread chaos.
The police force, long criticized for its heavy-handed tactics in supporting Ms. Hasina’s regime, has faced violent backlash since her exit. Many officers have vanished from public view, leaving a vacuum in law enforcement. The civil service is effectively paralyzed, and the economy, already facing stagnation, is in dire straits with rapidly depleting foreign reserves.
In his statements, Mr. Yunus has emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust in the government during this transitional phase, asserting that he harbors no political ambitions beyond facilitating a peaceful restoration of order. “Let us not allow this situation to deteriorate due to our errors,” he urged in a statement on Wednesday. “I earnestly call upon everyone to remain calm and to avoid any form of violence.”
General Waker-uz-Zaman, the army chief, held a press conference late Wednesday, affirming the military’s support for Mr. Yunus in his efforts to restore stability. He mentioned that he had communicated with Mr. Yunus and plans to welcome him at the airport upon his arrival.
General Zaman attributed much of the current unrest to the absence of police forces from the streets. He announced that new leadership has been appointed to the police force and expressed optimism that they would soon resume their regular duties. “The gap left by the police cannot be filled by military personnel,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges ahead.
