High hopes for change as Bangladeshis welcome new leader Yunus home



DHAKA: Three days after a student-led rebellion pressured their autocratic premier to flee by helicopter, euphoric Bangladeshis with hopes for change welcomed their new chief residence.
Suleiman Islam Russell, 25, was among the many crowd of a whole bunch who got here to Dhaka’s worldwide airport to greet Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who will lead a caretaker authorities that’s being established by the navy.
He had religion that the veteran economist was as much as the job.
“I consider that Professor Yunus will restore democracy within the nation,” Russell mentioned. “I consider he’ll rebuild our nation.”
Ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of widespread human rights abuses together with the jailing of political opponents, fled to neighbouring India on Monday as lots of protesters flooded Dhaka’s streets.
The navy then agreed to scholar calls for that Yunus — who received the Nobel in 2006 for his pioneering microfinancing work — lead an interim authorities.
Yunus had travelled overseas this yr whereas on bail after being sentenced to 6 months in jail on a labour cost condemned as politically motivated. A Dhaka court docket acquitted him on Wednesday.
Yunus was hit with greater than 100 felony prices throughout Hasina’s 15-year tenure, in addition to a smear marketing campaign by a state-led Islamic company that accused him of selling homosexuality.
‘Management corruption’
He faces mammoth challenges.
Among the many calls for of the crowds on the capital Dhaka’s bustling streets: a brand new authorities, imposing regulation and order, and stopping corruption.
Greater than 455 folks had been killed throughout weeks of clashes between protesters and safety forces.
Safety in Bangladesh has improved dramatically however there have been experiences of revenge assaults on Hasina’s supporters and occasion officers, in addition to on the Hindu minority.
However Azizur Rahman, a 29-year-old businessman, mentioned he trusted the South Asian nation would calm as soon as the authorities had been in management.
“The scenario, which broke down over the unrest, is enhancing steadily,” Rahman mentioned.
“Regulation and order can be absolutely restored as soon as the newly shaped authorities takes cost.”
Mohammed Younus, a 53-year-old avenue vendor, mentioned he had opened his retailer for a second day operating on Thursday as day by day life returned to regular.
Younus hoped the brand new authorities would have the ability to examine corruption and assist sluggish the rising costs of day by day commodities.
Bangladesh has been dominated for many years by an entrenched elite linked to safety forces, damaged solely by durations of instability and navy rule.
Yunus is seen as providing another.
“I hope Yunus will have the ability to management corruption as he does not have earlier political legacy — and he’s not a puppet,” the road vendor Younus mentioned.
“I hope he’ll have the ability to take the federal government forward, as he has connections globally.”
‘Breathe freely’
Change is already seen on the streets.
Cops are anticipated again on the beat after they went on strike on Tuesday, after they mentioned they feared for his or her security over reprisal assaults for his or her position within the brutal crackdown on protesters earlier than Hasina fell.
Scholar protesters have volunteered to maintain the visitors transferring within the interim, directing honking automobiles and streams of rickshaw taxis clogging the streets.
Shahidul Mia, a 23-year-old motorcycle rider, mentioned life was slowly returning to regular.
“I am proud of the scholars controlling the visitors as a result of they do not harass and fantastic us like visitors police,” he mentioned.
The Bangladesh Nationwide Get together (BNP), the principle opposition occasion that was crushed beneath Hasina’s rule, held a mass rally in Dhaka on Wednesday.
“The nation has been liberated, the dictator authorities has fallen,” mentioned BNP supporter Mohammed Enayet.
“We could not collect within the streets prior to now days, we could not breathe. That is why I got here right here, to breathe freely.”





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