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Published : 07 Aug 2024, 01:04 AM
President Muhammed Shahabuddin has appointed Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the head of the interim government.
The decision was reached during a meeting at the Bangabhaban on Tuesday night, where the president, military chiefs and Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinators were present.
The movement coordinators had proposed an interim government led by Yunus, which the president agreed to, according to a statement from Bangabhaban.
The meeting, which lasted from 7pm to 11:30pm, was convened to discuss the formation of the interim government following the dissolution of parliament.
The 13 coordinators of the student movement attended the meeting at the invitation of the president and Army Chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman.
A statement issued shortly after midnight confirmed that the meeting included the heads of the army, air force, and navy, along with Dhaka University professors Asif Nazrul and Tanzim Uddin Khan, and the 13 student coordinators.
President Shahabuddin said the country is going through a critical period and stressed the urgency of forming the interim government to address the crisis.
He advised consulting political parties for finalising the nominations of advisory council members and recommended including a freedom fighter in the interim government. The president also called on the public to support efforts to overcome the crisis.
Coordinator Nahid Islam said the coordinators, liaison committee, and two prominent teachers had visited Bangabhaban.
He said: "We had a long discussion with the president and the chiefs of the armed force about the current situation and the interim government."
He said the discussions were fruitful, and they received assurance from Bangabhaban that the proposed government by the student movement would be the final interim government.
The coordinators also submitted a list to the president, which included representatives from civil society and students.
“We have brought a preliminary list for the interim government. This list will be finalised through discussions. The interim government will be announced very soon.”
Nahid said: “We have submitted a preliminary list of 10-15 names, but we will not release it as it is still provisional. The list will be finalised and the announcement of the interim government will be made public within 24 hours.”
He also said Yunus will leave for Bangladesh on Wednesday and is expected to arrive by night or the following morning. The list will be completed by then.
“We expect to finalise the interim government within 24 hours or slightly longer,” he added.
In response to a question, Prof Nazrul said: “Since the list is not finalised, it will not be released. Discussions on other matters are ongoing.”
He explained: “We are forming this government under ‘extraordinary circumstances’. There are constitutional norms and procedures for validating such a government, which will be followed. The term of the government has not yet been decided.”
Further discussions will take place once the head of the interim government arrives, he added.
Earlier, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement proposed Yunus as the head of the interim government.
The proposal was made on Monday night by coordinator Nahid, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government after 15 and a half years.
He said Yunus agreed to the proposal.
Lamiya Morshed, executive director of the Yunus Centre, told bdnews24.com on Tuesday: “Yes, it is confirmed. Sir has agreed to the students' proposal.”
