Dhaka: The oath-taking ceremony for Bangladesh’s interim government is set to take place on Thursday evening, according to Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman.
The current political turmoil in Bangladesh has been fueled by mass protests, primarily led by students demanding the abolition of a quota system for government jobs. These protests have escalated into broader anti-government demonstrations, resulting in Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation on August 5.
General Zaman announced that the interim government is expected to initially comprise around 15 members, with the possibility of adding one or two more individuals. The ceremony is likely to be held at around 8 pm to accommodate the arrival of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is expected to land in the country at approximately 2:10 pm.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who has been selected to lead the interim government, addressed the nation, urging citizens to avoid violence and work towards building a peaceful and prosperous Bangladesh. “Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country,” Yunus stated in a press release on Wednesday.
Yunus is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka from Paris on Thursday, where he will take on his new role as the head of the interim government, as decided by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The President also dissolved the Bangladesh Parliament on Tuesday (August 6), paving the way for the formation of the interim government.
Earlier, Khaleda Zia, President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former Prime Minister, was released from jail after President Shahabuddin commuted her sentence under Article 49 of the Constitution.
Zia expressed her concerns about the ongoing violence and the misuse of state resources during a meeting with Maulana Mamunul Haque, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She emphasized the need for national unity and responsible governance to rebuild the country.
