Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved the 12th parliament that was formed through the January 7 national election amid the opposition boycott of polls.
Hasina Wazed became the prime minister of Bangladesh for the fifth record time as all the opposition parties boycotted the elections.
The student protesters’ body gave an ultimatum to the President and Bangladesh Army to refrain from forming an interim government and gave a 3 pm deadline to dissolve the parliament.
In a press release Bangabhaban said, “The decision to dissolve the parliament was taken following the president’s discussions with chiefs of three staffs of armed forces, leaders of different political parties, representatives of civil society and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.”
The press release also said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was freed. Moreover, the process to release those arrested between July 1 to August has started, and many have already been released.
The announcement came hours after protesting student leaders set a deadline to dissolve parliament and warned a “strict programme” would be launched if their deadline is not met.
NOBEL LAUREATE DR YUNUS AGREES TO LEAD BANGLADESH’S INTERIM GOVT
Bangladesh mainstream newspaper quoting a reliable source confirmed the information to The Daily Star that Muhammad Yunus has accepted the students’ nomination to lead the country’s interim government in the wake of Sheikh Hasina Wazed’s ouster and feeling from Dhaka.
“When I was contacted on behalf of the students, I didn’t agree at first. I told them I have a lot of work to finish. But the students repeatedly requested me,” the source quoted Yunus as saying.
“Many people lost their lives in this movement and many students and common people were killed. Now Bangladesh has the opportunity to run the country in a proper way. And it is possible only if you take responsibility. If you don’t agree to take responsibility, it won’t be good for any of us. That’s why we’re asking you to take responsibility,” one of the students argued.
The Daily Star reported Yunus was quoted as saying: “I also considered that these students had protested so much, they had to pay so much for it.”
“If the students can sacrifice so much, if the people of the country can sacrifice so much, then I also have some responsibility. Then I told the students that I can take the responsibility,” he said.
Yunus went to Paris as a special guest at the invitation of the Olympic Committee. But he is still is abroad for his treatment. Dr Yunus is expected to return to Bangladesh “as soon as possible.”
