Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 5 AUG: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left Bangladesh for a “safer place,” reportedly in India, as thousands of protesters stormed the streets of the capital, Dhaka, and breached her official residence on Monday. The unrest comes in the wake of one of the deadliest days of violence the country has seen since its independence in 1971.
Hasina, accompanied by her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, departed from Bangabhaban at around 2:30 PM on a military helicopter, according to Bangladesh media reports. Protesters forced their way into the Gono Bhaban, the prime minister’s residence, around 3:00 PM, minutes after her departure.
In a televised address shortly after Hasina’s exit, Bangladeshi Army Chief General Waker-Us-Zaman confirmed the Prime Minister’s departure and announced plans to form an interim government. “After holding fruitful discussions with all political parties, we have decided to form an interim government. We will speak with President Mohammed Shahabuddin now to resolve the situation,” General Zaman stated.
Urging the protesters to halt the violence, the Army Chief assured that the new government “will ensure justice for all the deaths that took place during the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement.”
The protests, which initially began as a student-led movement against civil service quotas, have escalated into a nationwide uprising against PM Hasina and her government. The violence on Sunday alone claimed the lives of at least 90 people, including 13 police officers, and left hundreds injured. In response, the government imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew and temporarily cut off internet services.
Since July, the anti-quota protests in Bangladesh have led to the deaths of at least 280 people, with demonstrations expanding into broader anti-government agitation.
This unprecedented development marks a significant turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as the country grapples with widespread unrest and calls for change. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with hopes for a peaceful resolution and the establishment of a stable interim government.
Tags: #SheikhHasina #Bangladesh #Unrest #BangladeshArmy
