Student leaders in Bangladesh urged the 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government amid a severe political crisis. President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders, and student representatives swiftly appointed Yunus as chief advisor following a meeting. Yunus, currently in Europe, expressed his willingness to lead and called for free elections.

The unrest began with protests against government job quotas and escalated into a movement against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned on Monday after mass protests and military defection. Accused of election rigging and human rights abuses, Hasina's crackdown left hundreds dead, prompting the military to withdraw support and force her to flee to India.

President Shahabuddin dissolved parliament, another student demand, and fired the police chief implicated in the crackdown. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was released from house arrest, and the military reshuffled generals loyal to Hasina.

While the capital, Dhaka, saw relative peace on Tuesday, with shops opening and international flights resuming, government offices remained closed. Celebrations followed Hasina's departure, with some revenge attacks on her allies. Concerns about violence against minority groups have been raised by rights organizations and international diplomats.