Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who took over as the head of Bangladesh's interim government last week, has hailed student protesters for toppling the regime of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh Unrest: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, has welcomed the student protests that overthrew the regime of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with students on Sunday night, Yunus, 84, said the way students brought down Hasina's regime was “incredible”.

“I told them (the students) that I respect you, I admire you. What you have done is absolutely incredible and now that you have ordered me to do it (as the head of the interim government), I humbly accept,” Yunus told reporters while talking to students.

There is no doubt that the student revolution brought down the government, he said.

'the monster is gone'

Asked about the wave of resignations of high-ranking public officials, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the head of Bangladesh's central bank, Yunus insisted that it was all “done legally”.

“They (students) wanted a new court, so they went and asked the chief justice to resign and put pressure on him,” Yunus said.

The Nobel laureate said, 'I am sure that the students will find legal ways to support all this, because all the steps were followed legally.

The students had issued an ultimatum to resign to the Chief Justice and other high-ranking public officials who believed in Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party loyalists.

Referring to Hasina's ouster, Yunus praised the student-led protests for chasing a “monster”. “Finally, the demon is gone,” he said, referring to Sheikh Hasina's ouster.

Make sure minorities are safe

On Saturday, the interim leader condemned attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, calling the violence “disgusting” and calling on youth to protect all Hindu, Christian and Buddhist families from harm.

Yunus's remarks came amid reports of widespread attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.

Hindus and other minorities have faced at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts of the country since Hasina's exit, according to two Hindu organizations – the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Ujjapan Parishad.

Reaching out to students at the forefront of the protests, Yunus cautioned them not to allow their efforts to be sabotaged by those trying to slow down their progress, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

“Many are standing to make your efforts futile. Don't fail this time,” he said while addressing students at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur city.

Yunus took charge

Last Thursday, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh and took charge as the head of the country's interim government.

Yunus, 84, was sworn in at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday night, after weeks of student-led protests forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India, sparking widespread unrest in the country.

Addressing the nation, Yunus emphasized on early return to normalcy and ensuring protection of Hindu minorities.

A 16-member advisory committee was announced to Yunus to run the state. The council includes two student leaders – Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmood – who were at the forefront of the student-led agitation.

(with input from agencies)