Pakistan expresses solidarity with people of Bangladesh, hopes for ‘peaceful return to normalcy’
Pakistan on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and hoped for a “peaceful and swift return to normalcy” after deadly protests led to the end of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule two days ago.
The statement comes as a caretaker government is expected to be formed under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus after student protest leaders asked him to do so.
The movement that toppled Hasina rose out of protests against public sector job quotas for families of veterans of Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, seen by critics as a means to reserve jobs for allies of the ruling Awami League party.
“The government and people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh, sincerely hoping for a peaceful and swift return to normalcy,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
“We are confident that the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people will lead them towards a harmonious future,” it added.
More than 400 people have died since July as security forces sought to quell the unrest but the protests grew and Hasina finally resigned and fled aboard a helicopter on Monday after the military turned against her. Hasina flew to India and is staying at a safe house outside New Delhi.
Bangladesh’s army chief General Wakeruz Zaman announced on Monday that the military would form an interim government, saying it was “time to stop the violence”.
The next day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament a key demand of the student leaders and the major opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP), which has demanded elections within three months.
Hasina’s arch-rival, BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was also freed from years of house arrest.
Meanwhile, protest leaders have said they expect members of an interim government, led by Yunus, to be finalised today.
Bangladesh’s president appointed Yunus as the head of the interim government late on
Tuesday and said the remaining members need to be finalised soon to overcome the current crisis and pave the way for elections.
Yunus called for calm and urged people to use the opportunity to build a better nation.
“I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence,” the Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer said in a statement, a day ahead of his expected return to the country from Europe.
“Be calm and get ready to build the country. If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed.”
“This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities,” he added. “We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations.”
“I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible, and to the people for giving your total support to them,” Yunus added.
“Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes.”