Interim leader Muhammad Yunus takes the helm in Bangladesh, to seek peace and prepare elections

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office as head of Bangladesh’s interim government Thursday after protests forced out former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this week.

The key tasks for Yunus now are restoring peace in Bangladesh and preparing for new elections following the ouster of Hasina, who fled to India after weeks of student protests over job quotas grew into an uprising against her increasingly autocratic 15-year rule.

The figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief adviser, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, in the presence of diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka. No representatives of Hasina's party were present.

The 16 other members of the interim Cabinet were drawn mainly from civil society and include two of the student protest leaders. The Cabinet members were chosen in discussions this week among student leaders, civil society representatives and the military.

The protests began in July against a quota system for government jobs that critics said favored people with connections to Hasina’s party. But she resigned and fled to India on Monday after the protests coalesced into a movement against her government and more than 300 people including students and police officers were killed in the spiraling violence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his best wishes to Yunus in a statement on social media platform X, and alluded to reports that Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh had been targeted during the violence.

“We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities,” Modi said. “India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development.”

Yunus, who was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work developing microcredit markets, was in Paris for the Olympics when he was chosen for the interim role. He called for calm and an end to partisan violence before he returned home earlier Thursday.

In his first comments after his arrival, he told a news briefing that his priority would be to restore order. “Bangladesh is a family. We have to unite it,” Yunus said, flanked by student leaders. “It has immense possibility.”

Yunus has been a longtime opponent of Hasina, who had called him a “bloodsucker” allegedly for using force to extract loan repayments from rural poor, mainly women. Yunus has denied the allegations.

On Wednesday, a tribunal in Dhaka acquitted Yunus in a labor law violation case involving a telecommunication company he founded, in which he was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail. He had been released on bail in the case.

The president had dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, clearing the path for the interim administration.

The quick move to select Yunus came when Hasina’s resignation created a vacuum and left the future unclear for Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule and myriad crises.

Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who acts as an adviser to his mother, has vowed that his family and the Awami League party would remain engaged in Bangladesh’s politics despite what he said have been attacks on the Awami League party over the past week. Many observers see Joy as Hasina’s successor in a dynastic political culture that dominates the South Asian nation’s politics.

“If we want to build a new Bangladesh, it is not possible without the Awami League,” he said. “The Awami League is the oldest, democratic, and largest party in Bangladesh."

Hasina, 76, was elected to a fourth consecutive term in January, but the vote was boycotted by her main opponents, thousands of opposition members were jailed beforehand, and the U.S. and U.K. denounced the result as not credible. Hasina's critics say her administration increasingly was marked by human rights abuses and corruption.

The chaos on Bangladesh’s streets continued after her resignation on Monday. Dozens of police officers were killed, prompting police to stop working across the country. They threatened not to return unless their safety is ensured.

Overnight into Thursday, residents across Dhaka carried sticks, iron rods and sharp weapons to guard their neighborhoods amid reports of robberies. Communities used loudspeakers in mosques to alert people that robberies were occurring, and police remained off duty. The military shared hotline numbers for people seeking help.

Many have feared Hasina’s departure could trigger even more instability in the nation of some 170 million people, already dealing with high unemployment, corruption and a complex strategic relationship with India, China and the United States.

China and the United States have both welcomed the new government.

“We think the interim government will play a vital role in establishing long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. He also reiterated that the government's decisions "should respect democratic principles, rule of law, and the will of the Bangladeshi people.”

China said it stood ready to work with Bangladesh to promote bilateral cooperation and advance their strategic partnership. "We respect Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the development path independently chosen by the Bangladeshi people," the Foreign Ministry statement said.

A student volunteer controls traffic, in the absence of traffic policemen on a street in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Tuj Johora)

Students clean a wall that was vandalised with graffiti in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Tuj Johora)

Military personnel stand guard on a street as members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) walk to take part in a rally in front of the party's headquarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

People read newspapers pasted on a wall in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Tuj Johora)

A girl participates in a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to victims of recent countrywide violence, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Tuj Johora)

People participate in a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to victims of recent countrywide violence, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Tuj Johora)

A small group of activists of right-wing Hindu group "Shurveer Jammu Sangathan" reacting to reports of attacks on Hindu temples and houses of Hindus in Bangladesh, shout slogans during a protest in Jammu, India, Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus receives a bouquet after his arrival at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahadul Karim Khan)

Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of office to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, right, as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Members of the interim Cabinet, drawn mainly from civil society and including two of the student protest leaders, take oath of office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of office to members of the interim Cabinet, drawn mainly from civil society and including two of the student protest leaders, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of office to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, right, as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

A crowd gathers in front of the President's official residence during the oath taking ceremony of the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Army soldiers keep guard in front of the President's official residence during the oath taking ceremony of the interim government in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus signs a document after taking the oath of office as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administers the oath of office to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, right, as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus speaks to the media after his arrival at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahadul Karim Khan)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus speaks to the media at the airport as he arrives in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus speaks to the media at the airport as he arrives in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus stands with his luggage at the check-in desk at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus walks with his luggage at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus waves to the media at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus checks in his luggage at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gestures while speaking to the media upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus waves goodbye to the media at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus walks to the check-in desk at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus smiles upon his arrival at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Blake Coleman scored twice, Dustin Wolf made 26 saves and the Calgary Flames beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Thursday night.

Yegor Sharangovich and Kevin Rooney also scored for Calgary.

Olen Zellweger scored for Anaheim, which was eliminated from the playoff race with the loss. Ducks goalie John Gibson left after the second period because of a lower-body injury.

Flames forward Martin Pospisil collided with Gibson with 24 seconds left in the second. Pospisil was driving to the net and was hauled down by Anaheim’s Radko Gudas, who was penalized for holding.

Gibson finished the period, allowing three goals on 26 shots. Lukas Dostal made eight saves in the third.

Kadri got the Flames off to a fast start, scoring his team-leading 31st goal of the season 16 seconds in. Zellweger tied it at 8:01 of the first.

Coleman put Calgary back on top with 9:35 left in the second with a short-handed goal, and Rooney scored with 4:42 left in the period. Coleman added his 15th of the season on a power play at 1:17 of the third.

Ducks: Anaheim missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

Flames: Calgary moved within five points of Minnesota Wild for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Flames are 6-2-1 in their last nine.

Halfway through the second period with the scored tied 1-1 and the Ducks on the power play, Coleman got his stick on a cross-ice pass at the blue line and, on the ensuing breakaway, fired a shot past Gibson for his first short-handed goal of the season.

Wolf improved to 25-16-6 in his rookie season.

Both teams play Saturday. The Ducks are at Vancouver, and the Flames host Vegas.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks' Radko Gudas, left, and Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl battle for position during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry, left, has his shot kicked away by Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf during third period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Drew Helleson, centre, and Calgary Flames' Joel Farabee, right, look back as goalie John Gibson stops a shot during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Calgary Flames' Nazem Kadri, centre, celebrates his goal with teammates and fans during first period NHL hockey action against the Anaheim Ducks in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Olen Zellweger, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Jacob Trouba during first period NHL hockey action against the Calgary Flames in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, left, blocks the net on Calgary Flames' Joel Farabee during first period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, right, blocks the net as Calgary Flames' Adam Klapka shoots wide during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Sam Colangelo, left, tries to get the puck past Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf during third period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, left, lets in a goal by Calgary Flames' Nazem Kadri during first period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)