As Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath to helm the violence-hit Bangladesh's new interim government on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to him on the ocassion. He also stressed the need for ensuring safety of the Hindus and other minority communities in the country.
Congratulating Yunus through a post on X, PM Modi wrote: "My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities."
Furthermore, PM Modi also hoped that Bangladesh would witness an "early return to normalcy" and stressed the need for "ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities in the country".
"India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," PM Modi added.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Muhammad Yunus for swearing-in as the head of the interim government.
"Congratulations to Professor Muhammad Yunus on being sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. A swift restoration of peace and normalcy is the need of the hour," Gandhi posted on X.
Yunus was sworn-in as the chief advisor to the interim government, along with an advisory council consisting 16 members, as reported by The Daily Star.
He was administered oath by President Mogammed Shahabuddin at the presidential palace 'Banghabhaban'.
No leader from the Awami League was spotted at the oath-taking ceremony. Diplomats from China, Iran, Argentina, Japan, UK, UAE, Qatar, and The Netherlands were present at the ceremony, The Daily Star reported.
The two key organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which eventually led to Sheikh Hasina's ouster, Md. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are also part of the advisory council.
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, women's rights activist Farida Akhtar, right-wing party Hefazat-e-Islam's deputy chief AFM Khalid Hossain, chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Supradip Chakma, Grameen Telecom trustee Nurjahan Begum, freedom fighter Sharmeen Murshid, Prof Bidhan Ranjan Roy, and former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain are also among Yunu's advisory council members.
The 84-year-old professor had flown in from Paris to Dhaka on Thursday to be sworn-in as the interim government's head, which had to be formed following the resignation of former PM Sheikh Hasina amid massive protests against her government. Hasina fled Bangladesh after tendering her resignation.