Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns amid deadly protests, flees country
New Delhi, Aug 05: New Delhi: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled Bangladesh following violent anti-government protests that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds.
Reports indicate that Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, were evacuated to safety by army helicopter.
While their exact whereabouts are currently unknown, it is believed they are headed to India. Reports from BBC Bengali suggest that Hasina and her sister are en route to the Indian city of Agartala, though other sources indicate Kolkata as a potential destination.
Interim Government and Border Security
In response to the escalating crisis, the Bangladesh army has announced the formation of an interim government. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman met the President of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the home minister's house was also ransacked by the protestors.
India, meanwhile, has heightened security along its over 4,000-kilometer border with Bangladesh, with the Border Security Forces on high alert.
Army Chief's Address and Delayed Speech
Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, is expected to address the nation. However, his speech has been delayed as he meets with various stakeholders. General Waker-uz-Zaman has stated his intention to meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin in hopes of finding a resolution by the end of the day.
He has also been in communication with opposition political parties, but it remains unclear who will lead the interim government. The army chief has promised justice for the Bangladeshi people, a demand that has grown louder following the recent violence.
Protests and Clashes
Despite a curfew and internet restrictions, large crowds of protesters stormed Hasina's official residence in Dhaka. Clashes between police and protesters on Sunday left at least 90 people dead, raising the total death toll in recent weeks to over 300.
The unrest began in July as a student-led movement demanding the abolition of civil service job quotas but quickly evolved into a broader call for Hasina's resignation after over two decades in power.
Nationwide Unrest
On Sunday, thousands of protesters, many armed with sticks, gathered in Dhaka's central square to demand Hasina's resignation. Asif Mahmud, a prominent figure in the civil disobedience campaign, urged supporters on Facebook to "prepare bamboo sticks and liberate Bangladesh."
The army has intervened to restore order, and support for the protests has grown among former military figures, including ex-army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan, who expressed solidarity by changing his Facebook profile picture to red.
International Reaction
The United Nations has condemned the violence and called for restraint from all parties involved. The death toll from the unrest has reached at least 300 prompting international concern.
The Bangladeshi government has imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew and restricted internet access in some areas to quell the unrest but at several places people are on streets.
