Muhammad Yunus, 84, on Wednesday (August 7), reportedly agreed to lead the military-backed caretaker government in Bangladesh. The banker and scholar, who is well-liked in the US, has faced over 100 lawsuits during the tenure of the previous government, which he believes were politically motivated. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once accused Yunus of exploiting the poor.
This change happened after widespread protests forced Hasina to resign and leave her position. Student protesters had taken action against her, also storming her residence, even as the country came under military control. Hasina is the longest-serving woman prime minister in the world, having held office from 2009 to the present and earlier from 1996 to 2001.
British media reports say her time in office has led to economic growth and development. However, some critics argue that the rich have gained more than others. Recently, Hasina was taken from Dhaka to India and is expected to seek asylum in another country.
KJ Noh, a scholar and journalist who studies Asia-Pacific geopolitics, spoke with Russian media Sputnik on August 6 about Yunus’s quick rise to power. Noh does not find it credible that a group of students could topple a government so quickly. He said it was common knowledge that the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)—a US non-profit organization that provides funding and support to various groups, including NGOs, to help foster democratic practices and institutions in different countrie.