DHAKA, Aug 9 : Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn into office Thursday to lead Bangladesh’s interim government as its chief adviser, days after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

“I will uphold, support and protect the constitution,” Yunus said during the swearing-in ceremony, adding that he would perform his duties “sincerely”.

Yunus took the oath at the presidential palace in the capital Dhaka in front of political leaders, civil society leaders, generals and diplomats.

More than a dozen members of his cabinet, who are titled advisers, not ministers, also took the oath.

They included top leaders of the Students Against Discrimination group that led the weeks-long protests, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud.

Others included Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, and Hassan Ariff, a former attorney general.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an award-winning environmental lawyer, and Asif Nazrul, a top law professor and writer, also were sworn in.

Adilur Rahman Khan, a prominent human rights activist who was sentenced to two years in jail by Hasina’s government, also took the oath as an adviser.  (AFP)