Bangladesh’s Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus will lead an interim government after mass protests forced longtime prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee. 

the presidency announced this today.

The appointment came quickly after student leaders called on the 84-year-old Yunus — credited with lifting millions out of poverty in the South Asian country — to lead.

The decision was made in a meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the heads of the army, navy and air force, and student leaders.

“(They) decided to form an interim n with Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus as its chief,” Shahabuddin’s office said in a statement.

The president has asked the people to help ride out the crisis.