Bangladesh crisis live updates: At least 24 killed in hotel owned by Awami League leader

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has agreed to take on the role of chief adviser for the interim government, Dhaka Tribune reported on Tuesday.Yunus said when he was first approached, he was hesitant, but said he agreed because someone needs to take responsibility for the country to be governed properly.

"When I was first approached on behalf of the students, I was hesitant and mentioned my existing commitments. However, the students were persistent in their requests," Yunus reportedly said.

"Many lives have been lost in this movement, including students and ordinary citizens. Now, Bangladesh has a chance to govern itself properly, and this can only be achieved if you take responsibility. If you don't, it will be detrimental to all of us. That's why we are asking you to take on this responsibility," one student argued.

The economist also reflected on the sacrifices made by the students and the people of Bangladesh, saying, "Given the significant sacrifices made by the students and the public, I realized I also have a responsibility. I told the students I would accept the role."

Notably, Yunus had travelled to Paris as a special guest at the invitation of the Olympic Committee and remains abroad for medical treatment. He is expected to return to Bangladesh "as soon as possible," as reported by Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have announced an outline for an interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. This information was conveyed in a video message by key coordinators of the student movement, Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Bakar Mazumdar on Tuesday.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, on August 5, tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.

Earlier in the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported.

In another major development, BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was also released.Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening and it is not clear if she will stay in Delhi or move to another location.

Meanwhile, in Dhaka, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have proposed an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, in a bid to address Bangladesh's ongoing challenge.

-ANI

Here are the live updates:

At least 24 killed in hotel owned by Awami League leader

At least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were burnt alive by a mob in Bangladesh at a starred hotel owned by a leader of Awami League party after its leader Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country, local journalists and hospital sources said on Tuesday.

The victims, mostly boarders, were burnt alive late on Monday night as the mob set afire Zabir International Hotel owned by district Awami League general secretary Shahin Chakkladar in Joshor district.

“The dead included an Indonesian national,” a local journalist told PTI in Dhaka over phone.

He added the doctors at Joshor General Hospital confirmed they counted 24 bodies while surviving hotel staff feared more bodies could be found inside the debris.

Media reports suggested unidentified mob, opposed to the Awami League (AL) regime, set the ground floor of the hotel on fire which quickly spread to the upper floors.

There were almost identical reports from across the country where the angry mob simultaneously vandalised residences and business establishments of many Awami League leaders and activists, including its central office in Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

Bangladesh descended into chaos on Monday after Hasina resigned, surreptitiously fled the country and landed in India while the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.

As the news of Hasina's departure spread, Dhaka and other parts of the country saw fresh round of violence in the already battered South Asian nation with mobs resorting to street violence, vandalising government property and even breaking into Hasina's government residence and looting the interiors.

-PTI