Bangladesh's transitional govt to be inaugurated on Thursday

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead interim government set up after fall of former Premier Sheikh Hasina

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DHAKA:

Bangladesh’s transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will be inaugurated on Thursday, the nation’s army chief announced.

Yunus will lead a 15-member transitional team, all of whom will be sworn in late Thursday, said Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday.

The transitional government was announced by Zaman on Monday after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India, following weeks of violent protests against her government.

Around 400 people died in the protests.

Yunus will return to Bangladesh from France on Thursday.

Read also: Bangladesh's Khaleda Zia calls for calm in first public address after six-year hiatus

On Wednesday, Yunus congratulated the “brave students who took the lead in making our second victory day possible and to the people for giving your total support to them,” referring to the country’s annual Victory Day, which marks Bangladesh gaining independence in 1971.

“Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence,” he added.

Yunus urged an end to “any senseless violence.”

Separately, a tribunal in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday acquitted Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom of labour law violations.