Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has hailed Bangladesh's "second independence" as he returned Thursday to lead his country back to democracy after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus will head a caretaker government that is being established by the military, which turned on Hasina over the weekend after hundreds of people were killed in unrest.

The leader, told reporters at the airport in Dhaka shortly after returning from Europe that Bangladesh had created a new victory day, stressing that Bangladesh had got a second independence.

He therefore called for the restoration of order after weeks of violence that left at least 455 people dead, calling on citizens to guard each other, including minorities who came under attack.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner revealed that Law and order was his first task, noting that the government cannot take a step forward unless it fixes the situation of lack of law and order.

Yunus further stressed that his call to the people to have trust in him, and make sure there would be no attacks against anyone anywhere in the country.

Reports have it that Yunus could be sworn in as the country's new leader as soon as Thursday evening.