As Bangladesh PM Quits, Nobel Laureate Mohd Yunus To Be Chief Advisor To Interim Govt

Amid escalating anti-quota tensions in Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will be the chief adviser to the interim government, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced on August 6. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and departed from the country on August 5 and arrived at India's Hindon airbase near Ghaziabad. The Army had reportedly given Hasina a 45-minute ultimatum to resign from the apex post. "She and her sister have left Ganabhaban (the Prime Minister's official residence) for a safer place," an unnamed source told the agency. 

At least 150 people have been killed in massive student riots in Bangladesh against reservations in government jobs. As per reports, over 300 Indian nationals crossed the border to enter Meghalaya through the Dawki checkpost to escape the violence. 

Interim Government To Be Formed

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinators announced on social media that Muhammad Yunus has agreed to take on the responsibility as the chief advisor to the interim government. Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators announced, ”We took 24 hours to announce a framework for the interim government. However, considering the emergency situation, we are announcing it now."

Nahid Islam added, ”We have decided that the interim government would be formed in which internationally renowned Nobel Laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus, who has wide acceptability, would be the chief adviser." He also called upon President Mohammed Shahabuddin to take steps to form the government soon. The Movement has also asserted that the government will not be formed by the Army. 

He added that the widespread violence is being carried out by ”ousted fascists and their collaborators” to foil the revolution. "As there is anarchy in the country and insecurity over people’s lives, we are urging the president to take immediate and effective steps to restore law and order in the country, and that freedom-seeking students will also be on the streets to assist law enforcement forces."

Why Are Students Protesting?

Student rioters across Bangladesh have been clashing with the police and pro-government activists in their demand to replace reservations with merit-based systems in government jobs. The 'Students Against Discrimination' group, which is leading the protests, believes that the "discriminatory" quota system is framed to favour supporters of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League.

According to the quota system, 30% of government jobs were reserved for the families of people who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Amid protests, the Supreme Court brought down the quota to 5%, however, the demonstrations continued as the students demanded accountability for those killed in the clashes. Moreover, the public showed discontent over the country's weakening economy and inequality, and the government's inability to tackle these issues.

Clashes Have Turned Violent, Over 150 Killed

The protests started at Dhaka University in late June and have now turned violent, proving fatal for over 150 people. Hundreds of people were injured as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to curb the attacks on establishments, police posts, and some Awami League officers.

Though the Bangladesh government scrapped these quotas in 2018, a High Court reinstated them later. This is reportedly one of the worst agitations since PM Hasina was re-elected earlier in 2024. On July 21, the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas. However, protestors returned last week demanding a public apology from PM Hasina.

Protestors Call For Nationwide Non-Cooperation

The student protestors called for a nationwide non-cooperation movement from August 4 with a single-point agenda - Hasina must resign. Protestors asked the general public to join a "Long March to Dhaka", a day after over 100 people, including 14 police officers, died in fierce clashes between demonstrators demanding the PM's resignation.

The violence forced authorities to cut off mobile internet and enforce a nationwide curfew for an indefinite period. Experts attribute the current unrest in Bangladesh to stagnant job growth in the private sector which has made public sector jobs, with their accompanying regular wage hikes and privileges, very attractive.

Telecommunication Services Cut

Communication services were disrupted on July 19 as authorities shut down some mobile internet services in the country, according to reports. According to NetBlocks, the South Asian country faced a "near-total" shutdown the previous night. Telephone calls from overseas were mostly not getting connected. Additionally, TV channels in Bangladesh came to a standstill as rioters set the state broadcaster BTV’s building ablaze on July 18, a day after PM Hasina appeared on the network seeking to calm the clashes. 

While the internet services were temporarily reinstated, the clashes on August 4 forced the authorities to indefinitely shut services once again. In July, the official websites of the Bangladesh Central Bank, the Prime Minister's Office and the police were reportedly hacked by a group calling itself "THE R3SISTANC3". “Operation HuntDown, Stop Killing Students." The websites displayed the messages, in bright red font, "It's not a protest anymore, it's a war now.”

PM Hasina's Response

Prime Minister Hasina's government initially said students were not involved in the violence during the quota protests and blamed the Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the clashes and arson.

Hasina refused to meet the students' demands, further worsening the protests. She also reportedly used the term 'razakar' (volunteers) - a term used for those who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 war that perpetrated some of the worst atrocities during the war.

After violence erupted again on August 4, Hasina said that "those who are carrying out violence are not students but terrorists who are out to destabilise the nation". The student group declined Hasina's offer for talks to resolve the crisis. 

UN Chief Appeals For Peace 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the matters in Bangladesh and urged authorities and the rioters to find peaceful solutions. "The secretary-general encourages the meaningful and constructive participation of youth to address the ongoing challenges in Bangladesh. Violence can never be the solution," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.