# Interim Government of Muhammad Yunus

The leadership of Muhammad Yunus began on 8 August 2024 when he was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. In August 2024, after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister and her departure to India, the key coordinators of the protest announced that Yunus would be Chief Adviser of the Interim Government. The main pledge of the interim government is organize a constituent assembly to draft and adopt a new, inclusive, democratic constitution, ensuring the inviolability of human dignity.

## Background

On 5 August 2024, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Waker-uz-Zaman handed the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to President Mohammed Shahabuddin following the Student–People's uprising. President immediately started the process of meeting with political leaders, key coordinators of the protest and civil society members from around the country to discuss the formation of an interim government. President dissolved the Parliament on 6 August 2024.

## Premiership
### Inauguration

Yunus was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh in a ceremony at the Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath. Foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party and other guests attended the state ceremony. Yunus and President Mohammed Shahabuddin signed the oath documents of the office.

### Domestic affairs

On 9 August 2024, Yunus visited injured peoples in Dhaka Medical College. On 10 August 2024, he also visited the home and family members of Abu Sayed & paid respects to Sayed's grave in Rangpur. On 13th August, he visited the Dhakeshwari Temple, the main place of worship for the Hindu minority in the capital city of Dhaka to meet the leaders of the Hindu community & denounced the ongoing attacks on Hindus & other religious & ethnic minorities
As head of government, Yunus delivered his first address to the nation on 25 August 2024. The Chief Adviser outlined the proposed reforms in his half-hour speech. He promised to reform the country's economy, education, health, human rights, election system, legal system etc in many other areas.
On 11 September, Muhammad Yunus announced that the interim government's intentions to reform the electoral system, police administration, judiciary & public administration in Bangladesh alongside strengthening anti-corruption measures & amending the constitution.
On 17 September, July Shaheed Smrity Foundation was launched to support the families of those who were killed or injured in the Student–People's uprising.100 crore taka was donated from the relief fund of the Chief Adviser.
Despite heavy security & deployment of armed personnel, scattered incidents of idol desecration & violent intimidation of Hindus by Islamists occured in various parts of the country during Durga Puja festivities of October 2024 in an attempt to jeopardize the observance of the most important Hindu festival in the country. On 11th October, it was reported that a golden crown donated at the shrine of Jessoreshwari by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to Bangladesh on 2021 had been stolen.

### Foreign affairs

Yunus government has been discussing with the ambassadors of different countries, including Palestine, Italy, China, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India, and a lot more.
Few days after becoming the Chief Adviser, Yunus talked with the UAE authorities. After the discussion, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pardoned 57 Bangladeshi expatriates who were previously arrested for protesting against the former government.
On 29 August, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was signed by Yunus. It was well-received by the people and the UN.
On his official foreign visit at Seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Yunus had discussed with the heads of the governments of many countries like Mauritius, Canada, United States, Italy, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, and Netherlands. He also discussed with some high officials like Volker Türk, Ajay Banga, Kristalina Georgieva, Karim Ahmad Khan, Samantha Power, Noel Quinn, and Dick Durbin. He also met Bill Clinton in a programme.
On 4 October, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, visited Bangladesh and greeted with Yunus. They discussed about strengthening bilateral relations and different sectors of both countries.

## Cabinet

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Yunus and his council of advisers at Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024. The cabinet currently consists of Yunus as Chief Adviser, 19 advisers and 3 special assistants to the chief adviser. The Jamuna State Guest House is serving as the official residence of the chief adviser. Apart from one Bengali Hindu advisor (Bidhan Ranjan Roy) & one Buddhist Chakma advisor (Supradip Chakma), all other members of the council are Bengali Muslims, out of which only 4 are women (Farida Akhter, Nurjahan Begum, Rizwana Hasan & Sharmeen Murshid). 3 student activists (Mahfuz Alam, Asif Mahmud & Nahid Islam) have also been included in the council.

## Approval ratings

| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Date published | Sample size | Margin of Error | Approval | Approval | Disapproval | Disapproval | Net approval | Net approval |
| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Date published | Sample size | Margin of Error | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy | Politics | Economy |
| BIGD | 22 Aug – 5 Sep 2024 | 16 September 2024 | 2,366 | ± 2.0% | 71% | 60% | 29% | 40% | +42% | +20% |