Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed interim leader of Bangladesh following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The 84-year-old’s appointment came a day after Hasina fled the country amid deadly protests demanding her resignation. Yunus, who has been critical of Hasina and is currently appealing a politically charged jail sentence, accepted the role after student-led protests rejected a military-led government.
The protests, which began in early July over civil service quotas, escalated into a broader anti-government movement, resulting in over 400 deaths, mostly civilians shot by police. On Monday alone, over 100 people died, marking the deadliest day of the unrest.
Hasina resigned and fled to India as protesters stormed her official residence in Dhaka, ending her nearly 15-year rule.
