Muhammad Yunus, a microcredit pioneer, is Bangladesh’s interim leader
His experience, popularity and international reputation offer new hope for a democratic future
MUHAMMAD YUNUS was already Bangladesh’s most famous citizen; this week he assumed its most important political office. On August 6th the 84-year-old economist and Nobel peace laureate was appointed to head an army-backed interim government, after protests forced the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister. Protest leaders, fed up with Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarianism, agreed that Mr Yunus was the best person to lead the country following weeks of turmoil. As one leader of the student movement put it: “In Dr Yunus, we trust.”
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