Bangladesh is pinning its hopes on one of the nation¡¯s most acclaimed intellectuals to bring stability to a country scarred by coups and political upheaval.

Muhammad Yunus, whose work alleviating poverty won him a Nobel Peace Prize, was named the head of a new interim government on Tuesday following the sudden ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister this week.

Though he¡¯s mostly stayed away from politics, Yunus is one of Bangladesh¡¯s most famous faces and brings considerable clout with Western elites.