Dhaka, Bangladesh — In a historic transfer of power, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus stepped down as head of Bangladesh’s interim government on Monday, paving the way for Tarique Rahman to take oath as the country’s next prime minister. Yunus’s decision came just hours before the scheduled oath-taking ceremony of Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), following a decisive electoral victory by his party.
In a televised farewell address to the nation, the 85-year-old Yunus announced the end of the caretaker government that he had led since August 2024. He urged citizens and political stakeholders to protect democratic freedoms, freedom of speech and fundamental rights as the country transitions to an elected administration. Yunus also expressed gratitude to key institutions, including the Bangladesh Army, for their cooperation during the election process.
The BNP secured a commanding majority in the February 12 general election, winning 209 out of 297 seats, and is now poised to form the 25th cabinet of Bangladesh with Rahman at its helm. Rahman, returning from years in exile, has promised reforms focused on economic recovery, governance and national unity.
Yunus, who returned from self-imposed exile in 2024 in the wake of mass political upheaval that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had agreed to head the interim government as a consensus figure. His resignation marks the formal end of the transitional administration and a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s evolving democratic journey.
Political analysts say the smooth handover underscores the significance of the recent election — the first since the July 2024 uprising — and signals a new chapter in the nation’s governance.
