Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, 5 August after the anti-reservation movement in Bangladesh turned violent. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has confirmed this. He said in a press conference in Dhaka that now the army will form the interim government.
On the other hand, the situation in Dhaka is out of control. The Army Chief has appealed to the people to restore peace. He said that we will bring the situation under control. Have faith.
About 4 lakh people are on the streets. Violence and vandalism are taking place everywhere in the capital. PM Sheikh Hasina has left the PM residence. News agency AFP has quoted sources as saying that the Prime Minister has left Dhaka and shifted to a safe place. Her sister Rehana is also with her. Such was the situation in Sri Lanka in July 2022. People were on the streets against the government. And had entered the President's House.
At the same time, some media reports are claiming that Hasina has reached India by military helicopter. She is reported to be in West Bengal. However, this could not be confirmed. The army chief has not said anything about Hasina leaving the country.
According to the Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, there have been clashes between protesters and police at many places. More than 6 people have been killed in this. Protesters have occupied a major highway in Tangail and Dhaka.
Mass Protests
The sources further mentioned that Hasina intended to record a speech but was unable to do so due to the chaotic situation. Earlier, hundreds of thousands of protesters, defying curfew orders, flooded the streets of Dhaka, marching toward the Prime Minister's palace and breaching its premises.
In response to the protests, soldiers and police equipped with armored vehicles set up barricades with barbed wire to block access to Hasina's office. Despite these efforts, massive crowds overwhelmed the defenses, dismantling barriers and continuing their advance.
Local media estimates suggested that as many as 4,00,000 protesters were on the streets, though this figure remains unverified.
Background of the Unrest
The protests have taken a deadly turn, with Bangladesh's army chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, set to address the nation following the deaths of 98 people in fierce clashes yesterday. These fatalities bring the total death toll since the protests began last month to over 300.
As the situation escalates, Hasina's son has called on the country's security forces to prevent any attempt to seize power from her administration. A senior advisor to Hasina has indicated that her resignation is a "possibility," hinting at the increasing pressure on her leadership.
Evolution of the Protests
Initially sparked by opposition to civil service job quotas, the demonstrations have grown into some of the most severe unrest during Prime Minister Hasina's 15-year rule. The movement has evolved into broader calls for the 76-year-old leader to step down, resonating with a wide cross-section of Bangladeshi society.
The protests have attracted support from various demographics, including film stars, musicians, and singers. Songs urging public support for the movement have circulated widely on social media, amplifying the call for change and highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction with the current government.
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