Nobel laureate Yunus makes emotional return to Bangladesh to lead caretaker government
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00:00At Dhaka airport, an emotional homecoming for Muhammad Yunus.
00:05The 84-year-old economist takes office Thursday as leader of Bangladesh's interim government.
00:11Proclaiming a new independence day, he called to continue pursuing the goals of the student-led
00:16uprising that has swiftly upended the country's power structure.
00:20I want to express my gratitude and praise the youth who have made this possible.
00:25They have protected this country and given it a rebirth and we wish for this new Bangladesh
00:29to progress with speed.
00:33First though, he must restore calm.
00:36The student uprising began in mid-July, with protests over government job quotas for relatives
00:41of those who had fought in Bangladesh's war of independence.
00:45Hundreds were killed amid a security crackdown by authoritarian former Prime Minister Sheikh
00:49Hasina, who resigned and fled to neighboring India Monday as protesters stormed her residential
00:56compound.
00:57Dozens of police officers were also killed amid the mounting unrest, leading police
01:02to walk off the job nationwide.
01:05In the meantime, students and community groups have organized to try to rein in increasing
01:10robberies and violence.
01:12Hasina's political party is not included in the interim government.
01:16Her family says that while she will not be returning to politics, other members of the
01:20dynasty may.
01:23I had said my family will no longer be involved in politics.
01:27But the way our party leaders and workers are being attacked, we cannot give up.
01:34Yunus meanwhile will have his work cut out.
01:37The country of 170 million people is struggling with high unemployment, corruption and a difficult
01:43geopolitical balance between India, China and the US.