Nobel Winner Muhammad Yunus Becomes Caretaker PM of Bangladesh

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the temporary head of the Bangladeshi government after the ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Yunus, 84, a prominent critic of Hasina, will serve as caretaker premier until new elections are organized. His appointment comes in the wake of widespread protests against a controversial government job quota system, which escalated into a broader challenge to Hasina's 15-year rule, characterized by economic growth but increasing authoritarianism. The protests, led by student leaders, have called for Yunus to take the helm of an interim government. Hasina's departure follows her long-standing animosity towards Yunus, whom she once labeled a "bloodsucker." Yunus is celebrated for founding Grameen Bank in 1983, which pioneered microfinancing to assist impoverished entrepreneurs, earning him the title "banker to the poorest of the poor." His efforts in economic and social development were recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. Yunus's relationship with Hasina soured in 2008 when her administration initiated investigations against him, leading to a trial in 2013 over allegations of financial misconduct, which he has consistently denied. His ventures, including Grameen Telecom, have also faced scrutiny. Yunus's commitment to social entrepreneurship began with a transformative encounter with a struggling woman, which inspired the creation of Grameen Bank and its mission to alleviate poverty through microloans.