Bangladesh parliament dissolved as protesters back Nobel laureate to lead country

Bangaldesh’s president dissolved parliament Tuesday, clearing the way for new elections to replace the longtime prime minister who resigned and fled the country following weeks of demonstrations against her rule that descended into violent unrest, Report informs via France 24.

The streets of Dhaka appeared calmer Tuesday, with no reports of new violence as jubilant protesters thronged the ousted leader’s residence. Some posed for selfies with soldiers guarding the building where a day earlier angry protesters had looted furniture, paintings, flower pots and chickens.

As the country waited for a new government to emerge, a key student leader said protesters wanted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to head an interim government.

Yunus, who is currently in Paris for the Olympics, called Hasina’s resignation the country’s “second liberation day” and said he was ready to head an interim government.

"I am honoured by the trust of the protesters who wish for me to lead the interim government," he said in a written statement to AFP.

"If action is needed in Bangladesh, for my country and for the courage of my people, then I will take it," he said, also calling for "free elections."

Bangladesh’s figurehead president and its top military commander said late Monday that an interim government would be formed soon to preside over new elections.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15 years in power ended with the leader and her sister boarding a helicopter for India, as thousands of protesters defied military curfew orders to march on her residence, which they later sacked along with buildings associated with her party and family. Her departure came after protests against a quota system for government jobs grew into a broader challenge to her 15-year rule as scores were killed in clashes between protesters, security forces and pro-government activists.

Military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zamam said earlier he was taking temporary control of the country, as soldiers tried to stem unrest. The military wields significant political influence in Bangladesh, which has faced more than 20 coups or coup attempts since independence in 1971.

Earlier Tuesday, protest leader Sarjis Alam told reporters that they had asked the president to dissolve Parliament by 3pm, and threatened to renew demonstrations otherwise as they seek to “repair the state".

“We have proposed the name of Muhammad Yunus with his consent, now if someone else comes from among the MPs, we will not allow that to happen,” he said.

A longtime opponent of the ousted leader, Yunus was accused of corruption by her government and tried on charges he said were motivated by vengeance. He received the Nobel in 2006 for work pioneering microlending.