The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Muhammad Yunus (84), felt called when the students called. They asked him to come home from overseas trips and lead a transitional government. – I am doing this because the country’s young people wanted it, and I wanted to help them, Yunus told journalists, according to the BBC. The army and the country’s president also put their trust in Yunus. – I am sure that he will get us through a beautiful democratic process, says army commander Waker-uz-Zaman, according to Al Jazeera. But can the economist manage to clean up the many challenges the country is facing? The mission is honorable, but by no means easy. Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as head of the transitional government on August 8, 2024. Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain / Reuters Chaotic conditions Protesters in Bangladesh chased Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the door. She fled to India on 5 August. When Yunus landed in Dhaka three days later, he said that Bangladesh has gained its second independence. – This is a revolution, a student-led revolution, Yunus said. Revolutions are rarely a bed of roses. When Hasina disappeared, the country was characterized by chaotic conditions for several days. Rage against fifteen years of suppression of all opposition was given free rein. Vengeance took over. People who have traditionally supported Hasina’s regime were spared. Not least, Hindus and other minorities were subjected to violent attacks. Temples and private homes were set on fire. Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan in 1971, but has since been strongly characterized by religious and cultural differences. A divided nation must be united. The students demonstrated against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: LUIS TATO / AFP Run and hide The lawlessness was reinforced by the police running and hiding. The police had acted harshly against the demonstrators and were afraid of being lynched. Trust is gone, and must be regained, because the police have been in the government’s pocket. – The same applies to the courts and the civil service, explains professor of South Asian studies at UiO, Arild Engelsen Ruud. Work is now beginning to detach these bodies and make them independent. It doesn’t happen by throwing away one party and bringing in another. The largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has also been criticized for corruption, and for using all means to maintain power. Unemployment among young people One of the most important tasks for the transitional government will be to resolve the economic crisis. Yunus has great weight here. He and the “village bank” he established, the Grameen Bank, lifted millions of farmers out of poverty by providing them with microloans. For this work, the professor of economics and the bank was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. – As an economist and with a long background in banking and microcredit, Yunus is a good choice. He enjoys wide respect both nationally and internationally, says Engelsen Ruud to news. Professor of South Asian studies, Arild Engelsen Ruud, fears that Muhammad Yunus is politically naive. Photo: Olaf Christensen The forces he is fighting against are nevertheless significant, explains Engelsen Ruud. Bangladesh is characterized by international contours created by the war in Ukraine, lower demand in Europe, as well as high oil and gas prices. In addition, the country’s important textile exports are exposed to competition from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Kenya. – This is a trend Yunus can do little about. In addition, the country has a weak banking system which has been the subject of significant corruption by the previous regime, says Engelsen Ruud. Commuters take their seats on a train at Kamalapur station, after trains started running again on August 12, 2024. Photo: LUIS TATO / AFP Exposed to wrath Yunus himself has been subjected to Hasina’s wrath. The year after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the economist considered establishing a political party. It did not go down well with Hasina. Yunus was constantly accused of breaking the law and corruption. He was finally convicted of violating the country’s labor law. The sentence is perceived as politically motivated, and was dissolved as soon as Hasina disappeared. The students are said to have wanted Yunus, because he is perceived as a unifying person without party affiliation, and who has good international connections. Bangladesh’s future depends on doing well. – The country is dependent on being a well-functioning society, including whether the UN will continue to finance peacekeeping forces from Bangladesh. This is an important source of income for the army and the individual officer, and therefore politically important for creating peace in the country, explains Engelsen Ruud. Bangladesh has many challenges that need to be solved, and this week there were floods. Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain / Reuters Pressed by various forces The professor fears that Yunus is politically naive. – He is a banker, a leader of a large development organisation, and a man with a moral backbone. However, he launched himself as the nation’s savior in 2007, and quickly had to throw away the cards because he got caught. Bangladeshi politics is a tough arena, and many of those active are highly experienced players. Now Yunus is being pressured by various forces, also by the students who have put him in a position. – It will be a difficult balancing act for Yunus to make this happen. The advantage is that he has great support in civil society, which largely consists of the urban middle class, and they have a lot to say, says the professor. – What happens if he doesn’t get it done? – What can go wrong is that there is no agreement on the way forward towards an election. Disagreement about the way forward could throw the country into a constitutional crisis, says Engelsen Ruud. Bloody street battles Yunus has to negotiate with three crucial groups, which have strongly conflicting interests: Sheikh Hasina’s party wants to wait as long as possible for elections, to regroup. The BNP and the Islamists want a quick election because they are well placed to win now. The students do not want any of the traditional parties to gain power, and want time to create something new. – In the extreme, we will have a power vacuum which in turn can lead to chaos. Bangladesh has a history of bloody street fighting. If the politicians do not get it done, the army will be able to take power, says Engelsen Ruud. Hear also: Published 30.08.2024, at 21.44
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Can peace prize winner Yunus save Bangladesh? – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
