DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus, who is set to lead a caretaker government after mass protests ousted the premier, called on compatriots Wednesday to be “ready to build the country”, ahead of his hugely anticipated return. The Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer will head the interim government as chief adviser after longtime and autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, the presidency has said. “Be calm and get ready to build the country,” Yunus said Wednesday in a statement, a day ahead of his expected arrival home from France, urging calm after weeks of violence in which at least 455 people were killed.
“If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed,” he added. The appointment came quickly after student leaders called on the 84-year-old Yunus - credited with lifting millions out of poverty in the South Asian country - to lead. The decision was made in a meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the heads of the army, navy and air force, and student leaders, the president’s office said in a statement.
Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said Wednesday that he hoped to swear in the interim government the following day and that he backed Yunus. “I am certain that he will be able to take us through a beautiful democratic process,” Waker said. Yunus had travelled abroad this year while on bail after being sentenced to six months in jail for a labor charge condemned as politically motivated, and which a Dhaka court on Wednesday .