Nobel Peace Prize winner and economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as head of Bangladesh’s interim government, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee to neighboring India.
Yunus, 84, took the oath of office on Thursday evening at the presidential palace in Dhaka, attended by political leaders, civil society representatives, generals and diplomats.
“I will uphold, support and protect the constitution,” Yunus said at the swearing-in ceremony by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, adding that he would perform his duties “sincerely.”
More than a dozen members of his cabinet, who have the title of adviser rather than minister, also took the oath of office. The transitional government will now try to restore peace and prepare for new elections.
They include Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, leading politicians of the group “Students Against Discrimination,” which led the weeks-long protests that led to Hasina’s ouster.
Others sworn in include former Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain and former Attorney General Hassan Ariff. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an award-winning environmental lawyer, and Asif Nazrul, a renowned law professor and author, were also sworn in.
Adilur Rahman Khan, a prominent human rights activist who was sentenced to two years in prison by Hasina’s government, also took the oath as an adviser.
No representatives of Hasina’s Awami League party were present at the ceremony.
Hasina resigned on Monday after nationwide protests began in July against a quota system for government jobs that critics said favored people with ties to her party.
But the demonstrations soon became an even greater challenge to Hasina’s 15-year rule, as more than 300 people, including students, were killed in the escalating violence.
Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work developing microcredit markets, was in the French capital around the time of the 2024 Olympics when he was chosen for the interim role. He returned home early Thursday to tight security at Dhaka airport.
In his first comments after his arrival, he told a news conference that his priority would be to restore order. “Bangladesh is a family. We must unite it,” said Yunus, flanked by student leaders. “It holds enormous opportunities.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his “best wishes” to Yunus and said New Delhi was “committed” to working with neighboring Dhaka.
“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming his new responsibilities,” Modi wrote on the social media platform X. “India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the common aspirations of our two peoples for peace, security and development.”
The United States also welcomed the new transitional government in Bangladesh and expressed its hope for cooperation in promoting democracy.
“We welcome Dr. Yunus’ call for an end to the recent violence and stand ready to work with the interim government and Dr. Yunus as they plan a democratic future for the people of Bangladesh,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
He said the highest-ranking US diplomat in Bangladesh, Helen LaFave, attended the inauguration ceremony and was in contact with the transitional government.
The United States had a largely cooperative relationship with Hasina during her 15 years in power, but it became strained when she became angry at American criticism of her democratic record.
Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdury reported from Dhaka that Yunus wanted to give people a sense of security and urged them not to seek revenge or retribution.
“Most people say it would be good if the transitional government stayed in office for a long time to clean up the system,” he said.
Chowdury said people wanted an independent judiciary and election commission to “depoliticise the system”.
“Because whenever there is a political government, there are many people who are loyal to that government and occupy higher positions, and the whole system becomes corrupted,” he said.
On Wednesday, a court in Dhaka acquitted Yunus in a case involving violation of labour laws involving a telecommunications company he founded. He had been sentenced to six months in prison in the case. He was released on bail.
Yunus is a long-time opponent of Hasina, who allegedly called him a “bloodsucker” because he used force to force poor rural residents, especially women, to repay their loans. Yunus has denied the allegations.
