Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus will be sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, he appealed to everyone to ‘maintain peace’ and ‘avoid all forms of violence’. On the other hand, the authorities are busy controlling law and order.
After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, there has been a major reshuffle in the country’s security department.
Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman on Wednesday announced that the interim government will be sworn in at around 8 pm on Thursday.
He said the advisory council could have up to 15 members. Gen Zaman said the armed forces would provide all possible assistance to Yunus.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who was released from house arrest on Tuesday, endorsed Yunus’ views, saying nation-building requires “love and peace” and not “anger” or “revenge”.
Yunus congratulated the coordinators of the student movement who had put his name forward for the top post, calling them “brave students”. He said these students took the initiative to “make our second Vijay Diwas possible”. “Do not waste the opportunity by getting involved in any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please do not create more enemies. Maintain peace and get ready to build the nation,” he said in a statement.
He said, ‘If we take the path of violence, everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help people around you to stay calm.’ The economist said, ‘Let us make the best use of our new victory. Do not let this opportunity go because of your mistakes. I humbly appeal to everyone to maintain peace. Avoid all forms of violence.’
As of Tuesday, the bodies of at least 29 supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party were recovered across the country, according to local media reports, taking the total death toll to 469 in nearly three weeks since the protests first began in July.
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh on Monday by a military plane and reached Hindon Air Force base near Delhi.
The army chief admitted that after Hasina’s ouster from power, there have been incidents of looting and anarchy, after which Yunus has appealed to the countrymen.
He said the police forces have become “totally inactive” and it is not possible for the army, along with the navy and air force, to replace them. Yunus also called Bangladesh a “beautiful country full of possibilities” in his statement.
He said, ‘We must protect it and make it a wonderful country for ourselves and our future generations.’
Meanwhile, a top police official said the death of policemen in the recent violence was due to some unprofessional and over-ambitious officers who violated human rights.
Addressing a press conference at the police headquarters, newly appointed Inspector General of Police Mohammad Moin Ul Islam said some unprofessional officers did not follow accepted principles of use of force and violated human rights.
“Because of them (non-professional officers) violence is continuing and people have suffered casualties,” he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper. The authorities on Wednesday reshuffled the top posts of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the Pratham Alo news portal reported. “AKM Shahidur Rahman has been appointed director general of RAB, while Mohammad Moin Ul Hasan will replace Habibur Rahman as commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police,” it said.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was released from jail after her arch rival Hasina was ousted from power, addressed a huge rally of her party in Dhaka, where she appealed for peace to rebuild the country. Zia (79) was sentenced to 17 years in jail on corruption charges in 2018 during Hasina’s rule. Zia, the president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said, “I have now been released. I want to thank those brave people who were in a ‘do or die’ struggle to make the impossible possible.
He said, ‘This victory has brought us a new possibility to overcome loot, corruption and sick politics. We need to make this country a prosperous country.’ Zia said, ‘No destruction, no anger and no revenge, we need love and peace to rebuild our country.’
Attorney General Abu Mohammad Aminuddin, appointed in October 2020, resigned on Wednesday. At the same time, business establishments demanded immediate restoration of law and order on Wednesday amid incidents of arson in factories in the last two days, so that the safety of their production units is ensured. The ‘Daily Star’ newspaper quoted the ‘International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh’ as saying that businessmen have said that they opened especially clothing factories today, but due to fear of unrest and vandalism, operation of many factories is not possible.
Chaos descended on Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday, the second day after offices reopened. Six top Bangladesh Bank officials, including deputy governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman, resigned, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Hundreds of Bangladesh Bank officials stormed the bank governor’s office, forcing several deputy governors to leave the office, the paper reported.
At least 29 bodies of supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party were recovered from various parts of the country on Tuesday, taking the death toll since protests over reservation system in government jobs turned violent in July to 469. Media reports said more cases of violence against minorities were reported on Tuesday.
There was massive vandalism at the residence of popular folk band ‘Jolar Gaan’ frontman Rahul Anand on Monday, forcing the singer and his family to take refuge at a secret location. The Daily Star quoted Saiful Islam, one of the founding members of ‘Jolar Gaan’, as saying that the mob started vandalising and looting the house after breaking down its main entrance and made away with furniture, mirrors and other valuables. The mob set the entire house on fire along with Rahul Anand’s 3,000 musical instruments.
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