New Delhi/Dhaka: Nobel laureate and “father of microfinance” Muhammad Yunus took an oath to lead the interim government in Bangladesh late on August 8, after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country in a military aircraft amid violent protests and landed in India.
Arriving at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on an Emirates flight from Dubai, Yunus immediately met President Mohammed Shahabuddin to assume his new role, as the country battles its biggest political crisis since gaining Independence in 1971. After taking the oath, Yunus said that he would "uphold, support and protect the constitution and will perform my duties sincerely".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his “best wishes” to newly sworn-in interim leader Yunus, saying New Delhi was “committed” to working with neighboring Dhaka. “My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security, and development,” Modi wrote on X social media platform.
Former PM Sheikh Hasina with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi during a recent visit. (Photo courtesy: X@narendramodi)
At the core of people’s anger is the Hasina government’s controversial quota system reserving 30 per cent of jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation war. As the news of Hasina’s departure spread, hundreds broke into her residence, vandalizing and looting the interiors.
Meanwhile, several Hindu temples, households, and businesses have been vandalized, and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Hasina’s Awami League party were killed in the violence when Hasina resigned and fled to India. The attackers did not spare the statue and photographs of iconic personalities of India besides the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the spiritual leader and founder of the Isha Foundation, said that atrocities are being perpetrated against Hindus in violence-torn Bangladesh and called for swift action to ensure their safety. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev also condemned the targeted attacks on temples and business establishments of Hindus in Bangladesh, and urged the government to protect the Hindu minority in the neighboring country.
Indian-American lawmakers urged the new administration and PM Yunus to bring a swift end to the violence and protect the Hindu minority in the country.
“The violence now targeting Hindus is wrong. PM Yunus must uphold the rule of law & prevent the targeting of temples or people of any political party or faith from violence,” Congressman Ro Khanna said in a post on X.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said, “I urge all government officials, the new administration and police chief, and the people of Bangladesh to do all they can to end the violence that has emerged across the country, including the brutal targeting of the country’s Hindu minority, their homes, businesses, and their temples.”
All Indian visa application centers in Bangladesh will remain closed until further orders. However, Indian diplomats remain in the country and the missions are functional. The Indian High Commission has coordinated with Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safe passage of Indian nationals to borders and facilitated their travel through land borders and flights.
