The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to the country on Thursday afternoon, is a leader recognized and respected by the student movements involved in the protests, activist spokeswoman Tasfia Haque said.
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“Dr. Yunus is the leader we all wanted. It was the students who chose him. We have the utmost respect for him. With him as our leader, we are once again full of hope. He is the leader we have all wanted all these years,” Tasfiya said.
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Commenting on reports that two coordinators of the student movement against discrimination have been invited to join the interim government of Bangladesh, Tasfiya stressed that she hopes for positive changes after their appointment.
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“We really hope that they will bring some positive change. They are the voice of our generation. For a long time we were suppressed by the government and other political parties, with most never thinking about our country or people. But these guys not only think about us, they are literally leading the whole country against the fascist regime,” a protest participant said.
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Protests and demonstrations began in Dhaka and across the country following the announcement of a multi-day “non-cooperation action” with the authorities, which was launched on August 4 by the Students’ Movement Against Discrimination. Clashes between anti-government students, police and government supporters escalated into riots.
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On Monday, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister left their official residence in Dhaka for a safer location amid unrest. News18 TV channel reported that Hasina resigned and flew to the Indian city of Agartala.
