DHAKA: Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus hailed Bangladesh’s “second independence” as he returned Thursday to lead his country back to democracy after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.
Yunus will head a caretaker government that is being established by the military, which turned on Hasina over the weekend after hundreds of people were killed in unrest.
“Today is a glorious day for us,” Yunus, 84, told reporters at the airport in Dhaka shortly after returning from Europe.
“Bangladesh has created a new victory day. Bangladesh has got a second independence.”
Yunus called for the restoration of order after weeks of violence that left at least 455 people dead, calling on citizens to guard each other, including minorities who came under attack.
“Law and order is our first task… We cannot take a step forward unless we fix the law and order situation,” he said.
“My call to the people is if you have trust in me, then make sure there will be no attacks against anyone, anywhere in the country.”
Yunus could be sworn in as the country’s new leader as soon as Thursday evening.
“Every person is our brother… our task is to protect them,” he said, adding that “the whole of Bangladesh is one big family”.
Hasina, accused of widespread human rights abuses including jailing of political opponents, was forced to flee to neighbouring India on Monday as masses of protesters flooded Dhaka’s streets.
The military then agreed to student demands that Yunus – who won the Nobel in 2006 for his pioneering microfinancing work – lead an interim government.
Yunus choked with emotion on Thursday as he recalled the killing of student activist Abu Sayeed, shot dead in July by police from close range.
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