Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Appointed Senior Advisor to Bangladesh's Interim Government

Muhammad Yunus, 84 years old and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was appointed as the senior advisor to Bangladesh's interim government on Tuesday, August 7, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled following a violent crackdown on student protests. Yunus's Grameen Bank, a microfinance organization, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to lift millions out of poverty by providing small loans under $100 to impoverished rural Bangladeshis. According to Reuters, protesting student leaders had called for Yunus's appointment as senior advisor after Hasina's resignation, and Yunus's spokesperson confirmed his agreement. Yunus is currently undergoing treatment in Paris and is expected to return to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, soon. It is unclear when the interim government will take over the administration of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, following threats from students to resume protests, President Muhammad Shahabuddin dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the interim government and new elections. Reports indicate that Sheikh Hasina remains in a safe location outside Bangladesh, reportedly having fled to India by helicopter after her escape. The protests in Bangladesh were sparked by demands regarding 'quota for martyr families.' Hasina's resignation and departure from the country have led to military rule, with over 100 people reported killed in the protests.