The leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country and resigned as anti-government protesters stormed the prime minister’s palace and parliament. he was announced dismissed from the job after 35 days of student agitation by Waker-Uz-Zaman, Bangladesh’s army chief while making efforts to reassure citizens.
Mr. Walker who stated he will be assembling an interim government noted that the violence had cost many lives and affected commerce. “Our country has endured much. The economy took a hit; many people died – we need to end the violence,” he said, dressed in military uniform and hat. “I believe my speech will help improve things.” He was confident addressing that a new government will deliver justice for everyone.
Rumours were making their rounds that Sheikh Hasina had flown off from Dhaka in a military helicopter. Plenitude of protesters then invaded her palace, looted and seized assorted property, household and agricultural produce, furniture and food stuff, cattle from the kitchen. Videos and images on social media showed protesters sitting on beds with their boots on, raiding the kitchen, and carrying off everything from goats to CCTV cameras.
Bangladeshi media broadcast scenes of crowds storming the prime minister’s residence and vandalizing a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Sheikh Hasina’s father and the former president who led Bangladesh to independence in 1971.
Since the protests began on July 1, over 300 people have died. The demonstrations started in opposition to a new rule introducing quotas in the civil service for families of independence war veterans. Public anger intensified after Ms. Hasina supported the quotas and blamed the opposition for the violence. She and her younger sister left the country in a military helicopter, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
Activist Abdullah al Soad speaking about the protest said Africa and the entire world have a far better future in store saying, “This protest was not for her resignation. But she made it that way. She again resorted to the old formula of killing people, oppression, enforced disappearance, but this time we didn’t stop.”
Amid restricted internet access, closed offices, and shuttered factories, soldiers and police barricaded routes to Sheikh Hasina’s office with barbed wire. However hosts of people removed obstacles and filled the highways.
Sheikh Hasina has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and remained popular for much of her term. That is, her popularity decreased after her fourth election in January, which many believed was rigged by the Indian government. Fears are growing that the country may be headed towards martial law, but protesters have made it clear they oppose an unelected government.
“The army chief’s public address will be followed by a students’ rally at Shahbagh, where they will announce their support or objections to the army’s proposal,” said a Dhaka-based journalist. “Students have said they wouldn’t accept martial law.” This particular army chief is at the moment in consultations with other politicians and members of the civil society to form the interim government.
