Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and fled the country after thousands of protesters defied a nationwide curfew and attacked her government residence.
In a televised address, Bangladesh military chief Waqar-uz-Zaman announced that he was taking control “at a critical time for our country” and confirmed that Hasina had left Dhaka for a “place of safety”, as local media reported her saying in neighboring India. initial destination.
He said, 'Now I am taking responsibility and we will go to the President and demand the formation of an interim government to lead the country in the meantime.
Zaman said an investigation would be launched into the deadly crackdown, which led to the withdrawal of troops and fueled anger against the government.
“Have faith in the army, we will investigate all the killings and prosecute those responsible… I have ordered the army and the police not to engage in any kind of firing,” he said.
“Now, the students' duty is to keep calm and help us.”
After the army confirmed Hasina's resignation, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital to cheer and shout slogans. Television visuals showed crowds gathering at Hasina's official residence in the capital, pumping fists, making victory signs, and removing furniture and other household items.
Hasina has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and was elected to a fourth consecutive term in a January vote that was boycotted by her main opponents and raised concerns about how free and fair the vote would be.
He was forced out by weeks of protests that began peacefully but turned into deadly clashes with security forces, leading to communications blackouts, curfews and nearly 300 deaths.
The protest, which began in July, was led by students demanding reform of the quota system for government jobs, which was eventually reversed by the Supreme Court. But the protests escalated into a campaign to oust Hasina as the rallies turned deadly and authorities tried to quell the violence by using force.
At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks, the unrest has prompted the closure of schools and universities across the South Asian nation, and authorities have issued curfews at one point to open fire.
Student activists called for a march in Dhaka on Monday, defying a recent curfew to press for Hasina's resignation. It comes after a fresh wave of deadly clashes across the country on Sunday left nearly 100 people dead, including more than a dozen police officers.
“The Second Revolution”
Hasina, 76, was one of the world's longest-serving female leaders and has played a pivotal role in the politics of Bangladesh, a nation of about 170 million people that declared independence in 1971.
She is the daughter of the country's charismatic founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was killed in a military coup in 1975 when Ms Hasina was 28. She served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001 and regained power in 2009.
Under his leadership, Bangladesh became the region's fastest-growing economy, with World Bank estimates lifting more than 25 million people out of poverty in the country over the past two decades.
But critics say he has become increasingly autocratic and call him a threat to the country's democracy, with many saying the current unrest reflects widespread discontent against his rule.
ASM Amanullah, professor of sociology at Dhaka University, told Arab News, “Bengalis have witnessed a second revolution in their 52-year history of independence.”
Amanullah said the students demanded a “complete reform” of the country, and said all institutions in the country were corrupt, blaming the government of the past 15 years.
“This is people power. This is the voice of the rest of the world. This is the voice of the rest of the Indian subcontinent,” Amanullah said.
“If you work against your people, no matter who you are, no matter who you are, you will not last long.”
