Political Turmoil in Bangladesh

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This chapter outlines the political upheaval in Bangladesh following the exit of a long-standing leader, leading to the appointment of Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as chief adviser amidst significant legal troubles. It examines the widespread student-led protests against an unfair job quota system, resulting in violence and a crackdown by the previous administration. The chapter further explores the urgent task of the interim government to restore international confidence and ensure stability in a nation grappling with deep-rooted frustrations and rising threats.

After weeks of protests and a brutal crackdown that led to several hundred deaths, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down and flee the country, putting an abrupt end to her more than 15 years in power. Stepping into the leadership vacuum is Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, who we spoke to last month -- when he was facing charges that his supporters said were trumped up by Hasina.

Today on The Big Take Asia, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Kai Schultz about what drove the student-led uprising and Hasina’s downfall, Yunus’s surprising turn to politics, and what’s at stake for one of Asia’s most promising economies.

Yunus Cleared in Graft Case After Becoming Bangladesh Leader

Further listening:

Why This Nobel Prize Winner Faces Life Imprisonment in Bangladesh

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