Public protests in Bangladesh have borne fruit, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her position and left for India from her residence in Dhaka.
According to British media, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister was given a 45-minute deadline by the Army Chief. Bangladeshi Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman will address the nation shortly to take them into confidence.
The British media report also stated that Sheikh Hasina and her sister left for India in a military helicopter from Gonobhaban (the official residence of the Prime Minister). She wanted to record a speech but did not get the chance to do so.
Protesters stormed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence, and a large number of police and military personnel are present on the streets to control the situation.
The Bangladeshi Minister of Law stated that the situation is very dire and he cannot predict what will happen next.
Following the announcement of a civil disobedience movement by students opposed to the quota system, the total death toll in violent protests has reached 300. According to local Bangladeshi media, 95 people, including 14 police officers, have lost their lives in these clashes, while the overall death toll in anti-government protests has reached 300.
The military announced an indefinite curfew in major cities, including the capital Dhaka, on Sunday evening. Internet services have also been shut down in view of the protests. The government has declared a public holiday nationwide from Monday to Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier labeled the students who started the civil disobedience movement as terrorists.
Previously, the current Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman had told officers at the military headquarters in Dhaka on Saturday that the Bangladeshi army is a symbol of public trust. In a statement issued by the army, the Army Chief said that the army has always stood with the people and will continue to do so for the sake of the public and the state’s needs.
76-year-old Hasina had been ruling Bangladesh since 2009 and had won the fourth consecutive election in January without any opposition, as the main opposition party, the National Party, had boycotted the elections.
