Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country amid ongoing protests.
The longtime leader left on a military helicopter after crowds stormed the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka on Monday (Aug 5), defying a national curfew.
A source close to Sheikh Hasina revealed that the 76-year-old Prime Minister left Dhaka with her sister for “a safer place.” The source added that Hasina had wanted to record a speech but did not get the opportunity to do so.
“Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution,” her son, US-based Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said in a post on Facebook.
“It means don’t allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty.”
Military to set up interim government
General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Army Staff, confirmed in a national address that the prime minister had resigned and that an interim government would take over.
“Trust in the army to restore peace,” General Zaman urged citizens.
“We will ensure justice for every death and crime during the protests. Please exercise patience and cease any acts of violence and vandalism.”
The general also mentioned that representatives from all major political parties have agreed to collaborate with the interim government.
Nearly 300 dead after weeks of protests
Weeks of protests have resulted in nearly 300 deaths since early July, with authorities attempting to suppress the unrest.
Following a deadly night of violence that killed close to 100 people, including 14 police officers on Sunday (Aug 4), tensions were high as protesters called for a march on Dhaka and the army prepared to address the nation.
National television showed thousands of people breaking into the prime minister’s official residence and large crowds celebrating in the streets.
What are Bangladeshis protesting against?
The protests began months ago over controversial government job quotas but quickly evolved into a nationwide uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party.
The mass protests in Bangladesh began as student demonstrations demanding reforms to the civil service quota system. Students argued that the existing quotas unfairly benefited loyalists of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party, the Awami League.
The protests grew as demonstrators expressed broader discontent with Hasina’s government, accusing it of autocratic practices and suppressing dissent. The government’s response, including closing schools and universities, failed to ease the unrest.
A Supreme Court ruling against reintroducing job quotas did not fully satisfy the protesters, who continue to demand the abolition of all job reservations for children of “freedom fighters.” This partial concession has done little to quell the movement.
The situation intensified when former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan criticized the government’s handling of the protests and called for troop withdrawal. This, along with the current army chief’s supportive stance toward the protesters, has further fueled the unrest.
Timeline
July 1: Blockades Begin
University students initiated blockades, disrupting roads and railway lines to demand reforms in the quota system for public sector jobs. They claimed the scheme favored loyalists of Hasina’s ruling Awami League. Despite winning a fifth term in January, Hasina dismissed the protests, stating students were “wasting their time.”
July 16: Violence Intensifies
Violence escalated with the first recorded deaths of six people following clashes between protesters and pro-government supporters in Dhaka. Hasina’s government responded by closing schools and universities nationwide.
July 18: Prime Minister Rebuffed
Students rejected Hasina’s appeal for calm and continued to demand her resignation. Protesters chanted “down with the dictator,” and torched the headquarters of Bangladesh Television along with other government buildings. The government imposed an internet blackout to curb the unrest. Clashes left at least 32 people dead and hundreds injured, despite a curfew and soldier deployment.
July 21: Supreme Court Verdict
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court ruled against reintroducing job quotas, a decision critics viewed as aligning with Hasina’s government. However, the verdict did not satisfy protesters’ demands to abolish job reservations for children of “freedom fighters” from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war.
August 4: Army Sides with Protesters
Hundreds of thousands clashed with government supporters again, resulting in 68 deaths, including 14 police officers. Former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to withdraw troops and condemned the killings. Current army chief Waker-uz-Zaman stated the armed forces “always stood by the people.”
Call for Final Protest
Leaders of the civil disobedience campaign called on supporters to march on Dhaka for a “final protest” on Monday, escalating the confrontation with the government.
