How an AFP journalist contacted Muhammad Yunus before Hasina was ousted from Bangladesh

On August 5, 2024, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of Chief Adviser in Bangladesh's interim government following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The creation of this interim administration was the result of a discreet outreach effort orchestrated by student leaders, with AFP journalist Qadaruddin Shishir playing a pivotal role in facilitating the initial contact between the two parties.

Shishir, who was the editor of AFP's Dhaka Fact Check team at the time, took on the responsibility of bridging the gap between the student leaders and the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

As recounted by press secretary Shafiqul Alam, Shishir approached Professor Muhammad Yunus on behalf of the student leaders in a covert operation that remained undetected even as Hasina continued in power for two additional days. The risks involved in this clandestine endeavor were significant, as discovery by the regime's security apparatus could have placed Shishir and the AFP team in grave danger.

Despite the potential consequences, Shishir remained remarkably composed and continued to gather critical video evidence of regime-related killings throughout the secret outreach process.

On August 8, 2024, Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, which was formed in consultation with student leaders, civil society representatives, and the military. The interim administration's mission was to pave the way for future elections, with Yunus announcing plans for nationwide polls to be held in February 2026.

The interim government's tenure came to an end following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) electoral victory, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who was subsequently sworn in as Prime Minister on February 17, 2026.