New leader calls for end to Bangladesh protests that left 560 dead

Bangladesh’s new leader, the Nobel peace prizewinner Muhammad Yunus, arrived home in Dhaka on Thursday and pleaded with protesters to refrain from violence.
Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal international airport and was welcomed by the country’s military chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who was flanked by the heads of the navy and air force. Some of the student leaders who led the uprising against the former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, were also there.
“Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country,” Yunus said.
“The nation is in your hands now,” he said, referring to the nation’s youth. “Now you have to rebuild it according to your aspirations. You have to use your creativity to build the country. You have earned independence for the country.”
Yunus added: “We have got independence for a second time, we have to protect this independence.”
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The 84-year-old, who had been in Paris for a “minor” medical procedure, was sworn in at an evening ceremony to lead the interim government. He said its first task would be to restore law and order.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, posted a message on Twitter/X: “My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection sof Hindus and all other minority communities.”
Yusuf’s appointment came at the request of protesters who foreced the overthrow of Hasina’s government earlier this week. Weeks of often violent demonstrations had been triggered by the government’s plan to reserve 30 per cent of all civil service jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.
High unemployment fuelled anger over the plan. In a population of 170 million people, more than 30 million, many of them youngsters, have no jobs and are not in education. At least 560 people died since the protests began more than three weeks ago.
Hasina fled by helicopter to India on Monday after resigning, where she remains. India, which had been a staunch ally of Hasina, has said “it’s for her to take things forward” in deciding where she plans to live.