Dhaka: The chief of the Bangladeshi army, Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, has expressed the military’s full support for Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is expected to be sworn in as the country’s interim prime minister later in the day, the Daily Star newspaper reported.
The army, along with the navy and air force, will work together to support Yunus, Waker-Uz-Zaman told a Wednesday press conference, adding that he had already spoken to the professor, according to the report.
“I felt very good talking to him. It seemed to me that he is very eager to do this job. I am certain he will be successful in taking us to a democratic process, and that we will benefit from it,” the newspaper quoted the general as saying.
He also expressed hope that Yunus would get support from students and all political parties.
Protests began across Bangladesh after the announcement of a multi-day “non-cooperation action” with authorities by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on Sunday.
Clashes between students, police, and government supporters soon escalated into riots. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. Yunus has been picked to head an interim government.
Yunus, the famous economist and banker, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the concept of microfinance aimed at improving people’s welfare, is set to return to Bangladesh later on Thursday after traveling to France to attend the Olympics and undergo medical treatment.
UNI/SPUTNIK
