Dr Yunus returns to Bangladesh to lead new govt

Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus returned home on Thursday afternoon to lead an interim government after a mass uprising, led by students, ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

An Emirates flight (EK582) carrying him landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 2:10pm when chiefs of the three services received him with a bouquet.

Prof Yunus, 84, is set to take oath tonight as the country's new leader. The Cabinet Division, meanwhile, has completed all preparations for the swearing-in ceremony at Bangabhaban with the presence of 400 dignitaries.

On Wednesday, in a statement, the Nobel laureate urged all to stay calm so that the new victory does not slip away due to mistakes.

“If we take the path of violence, everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm,” he said, urging people from all walks of life to refrain from all kinds of violence.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka tribunal on Wednesday acquitted Prof Yunus, chairman of Grameen Telecom, and its three top officials in a labour law violation case.

On 1 January, the Labour Court-3 of Dhaka sentenced the four, including Prof Yunus, to six months’ imprisonment each.

They were also fined Tk30,000 each, in default of which they would have to serve 25 more days in prison.