Bangladesh's Yunus introduces 'brains' behind ex-PM Sheikh Hasina's ouster

Bangladesh's chief adviser Muhammad Yunus publicly praised the students who were the "brains" behind the recent revolution in the country, which led to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster.

Yunus was speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with former US President Bill Clinton standing next to him.

The interim head of the Bangladesh government called Mahfuz Abdullah and two other student leaders on the stage and lauded them for sparking a revolution that "shook the entire country".

Mahfuz Abdullah, who also goes by Mahfuz Alam, is coordinator of the liaison committee of student movement leaders.

Introducing the three students, Yunus said: "They just look like any other young person(s) you will not recognize. But when you see them in action or hear them speak, you will be shaken. They shook the whole country by their speeches, dedication and committment. They said you can kill us anytime you want, but we won't give up."

Yunus then held Mahfuz's arm and called him the "brain behind the revolution".

"He is known as the brain behind the whole revolution. He denies it repeatedly ... but that's how he is recognised," he said.

This is how Prof. Yunus introduced the student leaders who deposed Fascist Hasina.Yunus was standing next to his old friend Clinton.Yunus introduced Mahfuj Abdullah as the mastermind behind Hasina's ouster....an official introduction at the world stage that will change pic.twitter.com/wu6vQwkWaA
Premiumerza (@PREMIUMERZA) September 25, 2024

Yunus called the student revolution a meticulously designed and carefully planned movement. "Even the leadership did not know who was leading it [the movement]. When they speak, they can inspire any young person anywhere in the world," he said.

He said the students are creating a new version of Bangladesh.

According to a report in the Dhaka Tribune, Yunus claimed that the Hasina government resorted to violent actions against student protesters.

Bangladesh was thrown into deep turmoil after massive protests by students forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as the Prime Minister and flee the country in August. She took refuge in India.

The protests were triggered by a long-running resentment over a reservation system that saw 56% of government positions in Bangladesh reserved for various groups, including 30% for the descendants of freedom fighters who fought in the 1971 War of Independence.

After Hasina's exit, Yunus (84), who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was designated head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament.