Staff Correspondent: An interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in tonight at the Bangabhaban.
The formation of the government comes three days after Sheikh Hasina, who was in power for 15 years, resigned as prime minister and fled the country on August 5.
Bangladesh has a long history of caretaker or interim governments, with the first one formed in 1991.
The chief adviser of the interim or caretaker government enjoys the status of prime minister and a member of the advisory council gets the status of a minister.
In 1991, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed headed the first caretaker government, following the fall of military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s government due to a mass uprising.
In 1996, a caretaker government was formed with Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman as chief adviser.
Although the first interim government in 1991 was intended to help the transition from authoritarianism to democracy, this system was adopted as the 13th amendment to the Constitution in 1996 by the Sixth Parliament, formalising this arrangement.
It was introduced in the constitution in the face of a tumultuous movement spearheaded by the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina.
Justice Latifur Rahman was the head of the 2001 caretaker government.
Then president, Iajuddin Ahmed also served as chief adviser of the caretaker government from late October 2006 to January 11, 2007.
Fakhruddin, former central bank governor and economist, took charge as the head of the caretaker government on January 12, 2007, under the state of emergency amid political disorder.
In 2011, the Hasina-led government abolished the caretaker government system.
Prof Asif Nazrul, who took oath as an adviser of the present interim government, on August 6 said, “We are going to form the government in an extraordinary situation. There are different constitutional means and customs to legalise certain actions. We will follow those to do that.”
Shahdeen Malik, a Supreme Court lawyer and a noted commentator on legal issues, said it might not be possible to fully abide by the constitution in the context of such an extraordinary political upheaval in Bangladesh in recent days.
“This has happened in the past. Since it is not possible to follow the constitution to make reforms for national interest, these reforms could be legitimised by amending the constitution later,” he told The Daily Star.
All the general elections held under Shahabuddin, Habibur, Lutfor and Fakhruddin were comparatively acceptable to the people of the country.
Keep faith in me Prof Yunus urges all
Calling upon all to save the country from chaos and violence, Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said restoring law and order would be his first priority to take the country forward.
“Keeping faith in me, you have invited me; the students have invited me and I have responded to that invitation. My appeal to the pepole: if you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that no attack is carried out on anyone and anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility,” he told a crowded news briefing upon his arrival in Dhaka from abroad in the afternoon.
Flanked by navy and air force chiefs, Chief of Army Staff Gen Waker-uz-Zaman received Yunus at the airport.
Some key organisers of the anti-discrimination student movement and representatives of the civil society were also present at the airport to welcome the Nobel laureate.
The student leaders had earlier proposed Yunus for the position of chief adviser of an interim government.
Yunus said, “Today is our day of glory. We have to move forward keeping in mind the revolution through which a new Victory Day has been created in Bangladesh today.”
The microcredit pioneer expressed his gratitude to the young people who made it possible. “They have saved this country. They have given rebirth to our country. Our pledge is that we will take the country forward at a very fast pace after this rebirth.”
In a choking voice, Yunus paid tribute to Abu Sayed, the student who was among those killed first in police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement.
“I am remembering Abu Sayed. His image is etched in the mind of each Bangladeshi. No one will be able to forget it — an incredibly courageous young man standing in front of guns. No young men and women accepted defeat after that, and they marched forward,” he said, his voice choking with emotion.
The movement then spread across the country and Bangladesh achieved independence for the second time, Yunus said.
He said the people must protect this freedom. “We also have to make sure that the benefits of this freedom reach every citizen. Else, the freedom would be meaningless. So, we pledge to take the freedom to every home.”
