Bangladesh goes another day without a government — interim or permanent

Three days after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid nationwide violence, Bangladesh remains without a government — interim or permanent.

While the protestors, at least the student groups, sought a transition to democracy from what they said was Hasina’s autocratic rule, they are now left with a military regime with looting and political violence taking over the country.

The military regime, which sided with the anti-Hasina forces towards the end of their movement, picked Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead the interim government. He is in Europe and is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday to assume charge of the interim government.

Yunus is currently in the French capital of Paris, according to Bangla-language newspaper Prothom Alo.

Yunus was picked to lead the interim government by a conference of Bangladesh President, the three military chiefs, and the co-ordinators of the student groups protesting against Hasina. Even though a number of lists have surfaced that feature the members of the interim government, the newspaper reported that there is no confirmed list as of now.

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Amid no government in Bangladesh, interim or permanent, looters and extremists have taken over the country who are carrying out attacks on properties and leaders associated with deposed leader Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) party. Attacks on minorities and their places of worships, including Hindus and Hindu temples, have also been reported across the country as radicals of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami have emerged as powerful forces following the fall of Hasina’s BAL.

Elections to be held in few months, says Yunus

Even though he continues to live abroad, Yunus has said his interim administration will hold elections in few months.

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The student leaders who initially waged the movement against Hasina, before the BNP and Jamaat took over, have been adamant that their objective was to not have a military regime or an unelected technocratic administration. They have remained firm that they want a democratically-elected government.

As he assured to hold elections in a few months’ time, Yunus called for calmness to prevail in Bangladesh.

“I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. Be calm and get ready to build the country. If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed,” said 84-year-old Yunus, according to AFP.

Yunus dubbed Hasina’s ouster as “second victory day” and said people of the country must protect the nation for future generations.

“I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible, and to the people for giving your total support to them. Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes,” said Yunus, as per the agency.