NEW DELHI: Chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government Mohammad Yunus on Tuesday introduced the “brains” behind the recent protests in the country which ultimately led to the ouster of Seikh Hasina. The chief adviser described the movement as a well-organized and disciplined uprising, with no identifiable leader to be singled out or arrested, which had made it more powerful.
During his address to the Clinton Global Initiative on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Yunus said that the student revolution in Bangladesh was not organic, but a meticulously designed agitation which did not just came naturally.
According to Dhakha Tribune, Yunus introduced his special assistant Mahfuz Alam and said, “And this is the responsibility we take together. In that they just look like any other young person you will not recognize. But when you see them in action, when you hear them speak, you’ll be shaking. They shook the whole country by their speeches, by their dedication, their commitment.”
“And he is known as to be the brain behind the whole revolution. So he denies it repeatedly. He said, not me, many others. But that’s how he’s recognized. He’s a brain behind the whole thing. It’s amazing. Meticulously designed thing. It’s not just suddenly came. It’s not like that. Very well designed. Even the leadership pattern. People don’t know who the leader is. So you can’t catch one and say, okay, it’s over. It’s not over. So it’s completely diverse. When they speak the language, is something inspired any young person anywhere. Any person anywhere in the world. These are the guys. Let’s give them a big applause. This is the Bangladesh. They are the one creating the new version of Bangladesh. Let’s wish them a success,” he added.
According to Dhaka Tribune, Yunus also shared stories of the previous government’s violent actions against student protesters and highlighted how students had courageously stood against live bullets while speaking to global leaders alongside former US president Bill Clinton.
Hasina fled to India on August 5 after she was forced to resign amid a student-led mass uprising.
The protests, initially ignited by students opposing a government employment quota system, rapidly evolved into widespread demonstrations against Hasina’s administration due to allegations of corruption, economic mismanagement, and harsh crackdown on dissent. The discontent among the population was exacerbated by rising inflation and economic challenges.