Bangladesh Nobel winner Yunus ready to lead caretaker govt

Bangladesh Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus announced on Tuesday his willingness to lead a caretaker government, following the military's takeover and the ousting of long-term leader Sheikh Hasina amid widespread protests.

Yunus, 84, known for his pioneering work in microfinance, has garnered immense respect from millions of Bangladeshis for his efforts in alleviating poverty. Despite his achievements, he has faced opposition from the ousted Hasina.

In a statement to AFP, Yunus expressed his readiness to step in for his country's sake, stating, "If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it." He also called for "free elections," responding to calls from student leaders for him to lead an interim government.

Sheikh Hasina, 76, had been in power since 2009 but faced accusations of election rigging in January.

Over the past month, millions of protesters demanded her resignation, leading to a crackdown by security forces that resulted in hundreds of deaths. Despite the violence, the protests intensified, and Hasina eventually fled the country on Monday after losing the military's support.

Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the formation of an interim government, declaring it was "time to stop the violence."

On Tuesday, the president dissolved parliament, a move aligned with the demands of student leaders and the major opposition party, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), which has called for elections within three months.