Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus to Lead Interim Government as Sheikh Hasina Flees Amid Uprising

Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the interim government following the resignation and flight of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid a mass uprising primarily led by students.

On Monday, Hasina fled the country via military helicopter after violent protests erupted, demanding her ouster over a controversial quota system for government jobs. The protests, which began last month, resulted in over 400 deaths due to government repression.

In the wake of Hasina’s departure, Bangladesh’s parliament was dissolved, as confirmed by the president’s office. Khaleda Zia, Hasina’s political rival, was released from years of house arrest following the upheaval. The opposition party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, reopened its Dhaka office for the first time in over a decade, signaling a shift in the political landscape.

India’s foreign minister announced that the country has heightened border security in response to the situation, confirming that Hasina is currently in New Delhi applying for political asylum in the UK.