Student movement wants Yunus to head interim government

Just after 4am on Tuesday, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, releases a video message

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement wants Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to serve as the chief advisor to the interim government.

In a video message at 4:10am on Tuesday, Nahid Islam, a key coordinator of the movement, revealed the name of the microcredit guru and said more information about the rest of the government would be disclosed later in the morning.

Although it was stated during a press conference at 8:30pm that an outline of the interim government would be given within 24 hours, this video message was released on the social media platform Facebook early in the morning.

A few hours after meeting the president on Monday night, the coordinators floated the idea on Facebook. The video was broadcast on the Facebook profile of Asif Mahmud, another key coordinator of the student movement.

In the video message, Nahid spoke alongside Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumdar.

According to Nahid, Yunus has agreed to their proposal to restore peace.

However, amid intense protests, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country, Yunus dismissed rumours of entering active politics during an interview with the Indian news outlet, The Print. Currently in Paris, Yunus said, "I am not the type to enter politics."

Nevertheless, coordinator Nahid emphasised in the video statement that the Nobel laureate has agreed to the proposal from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

He said, "We have decided that internationally renowned Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus will be appointed as the chief advisor in the interim government, and we have also spoken with Dr Muhammad Yunus. He has agreed to take on this significant responsibility in response to the call of the students and public to safeguard Bangladesh."

Nahid commented on their overnight message, "After our uprising and revolution, fascists and their allies are causing chaos and sabotage. Shooting is still happening in various places. Temples are being attacked, and looting and sabotage are occurring. This sabotage is being orchestrated to thwart our uprising."

In the video lasting over three minutes, Nahid said, "We are urging the freedom-seeking student-public to remain alert and vigilant. We had taken 24 hours to propose an interim government. According to the urgency of the situation, we are now announcing an outline.

"We want to see the process of forming this government by morning. There will be a call to the president to swiftly form an interim government with Dr Muhammad Yunus as the chief advisor. And we will also announce the rest of the members of the interim government by morning."

He added a call to end ongoing anarchy, saying, "Due to the ongoing chaos and insecurity in people's lives, we are urging the president to take effective measures to restore law and order promptly, and the freedom-seeking student-public will support the law enforcement on the streets."

Nahid said the students and members of the public must remain on the streets to protect the uprising until an interim government is formed.

"We have shed blood, we have become martyrs. We must fulfil our promise to form a new Bangladesh. And we will not accept any government other than the one proposed by the student-public."

He also called on the committee on the protection of communal harmony and state assets to keep watch in every neighbourhood. "We must protect our minority community and our state assets, and our country."

Earlier in the night, during discussions about the interim government at the press conference, he said, "We will not support any government unless it is supported or proposed by the students and citizens. It could be a military-backed government or a presidential government. Such governments will not be accepted by the students and the people."

"Through discussions with everyone, we will disclose who will be part of that democratic process-based interim government."

Later, in a changed situation, President Muhammed Sahabuddin met various political parties and representatives of the student movement.

He also addressed the nation about the framework of the interim government, and announced that the parliament will be dissolved in accordance with the constitution to pave the way for a swift election.