Dr. Muhammad Yunus broke down in tears during his first address after returning to Bangladesh to assume leadership of the temporary administration. He was recalling the memory of Rangpur student Abu Sayed, who was the first casualty of the anti-discrimination student movement.

He said: “At this moment, I remember Abu Sayeed. The image of Abu Sayed is etched in the hearts of every Bangladeshi. No one can forget it. What an incredible, brave young man standing in front of a gun, and from then on, no young man or woman backed down. They moved forward and said, shoot as much as you want; we are here.”

Mentioning that the movement spread across the country due to this unwavering determination, he added: “Because of this, Bangladesh achieved independence for the second time. We must protect this independence. Not only protect it, but we must also ensure that its benefits reach every household; otherwise, this independence has no value. Delivering this independence is our oath and firm commitment.”

Dr Yunus was speaking at a press briefing at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival from Paris to take oath as the head of the interim government.

He will be sworn in on Thursday night by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan welcomed Prof Yunus upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Before leaving Paris, where he had been attending the Olympics, Prof Yunus appealed for calm in Bangladesh amid tensions over the country’s future.

Dr Yunus was named as interim leader following talks among military officials, civic leaders and the student activists who led the uprising against Hasina.