Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that his decision to head Bangladesh’s interim government was not driven by personal ambition, but by the demand of citizens seeking change.

“This is not about me—it’s about the people’s call for transformation. I am simply helping to carry their aspirations forward,” Yunus said in an interview with Malaysia’s national news agency during his three-day official visit to Kuala Lumpur.

He explained that he does not act out of self-interest: “I don’t force my own ideas. I only observe what the people want, and then I try to make it possible for them.”

Yunus, who was invited by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from August 11 to 13, noted that millions of Bangladeshis had been deprived of their right to vote for more than a decade.

“Some citizens have been waiting 10 or even 15 years to cast their first ballot. Imagine turning 18 with the excitement of voting, but never getting the chance until now. For many, this will be their first real election in a generation,” he said.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recognised globally for introducing microfinance in 2006, admitted that political leadership was never part of his plan. However, he said he felt compelled to step in as a guardian of democracy during this critical juncture.

“There are enormous challenges ahead,” he acknowledged. “Those who lost political ground in Bangladesh are now trying to undermine the system and disrupt stability.”

Bangladesh is expected to hold its next general election in February 2026, with the interim government overseeing the transition.