Amidst Deadly Violence and Student Demands, Sheikh Hasina Resigns as Bangladesh PM

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has departed Dhaka via a military helicopter amid escalating violence across the country, local media reported on Monday. According to the latest reports, Hasina has left for a location in India, although there has been no official confirmation of this.

ProthomAlo reported that Hasina’s helicopter took off from Bangabhaban, the official residence of the Bangladesh President, at 2:30 p.m. local time. Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s younger sister, was also aboard. Sources indicated that the helicopter was headed for West Bengal, India.

Protesters breached the gates of Gono Bhaban, Hasina’s official residence, around 3 p.m., according to The Daily Star. Thousands of people participated in the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement’s “March to Dhaka” from the Mirpur 10 roundabout towards Farmgate.

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who was scheduled to make a televised address, was reportedly pushed back by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), as cited by The Daily Star.

On August 3, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement demanded the resignation of Hasina and her cabinet members. Nahid Islam, a key organizer, made this announcement at a rally at Central Shaheed Minar. Hasina had previously invited agitating students to Gono Bhaban to discuss their grievances and end the violence related to quota reform protests. She stated, “The doors of Gono Bhaban are open. I want to sit with the agitating students and listen to them. I want no conflict.”

The “March to Dhaka” was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was moved to Monday. In response to the escalating crisis, Bangladesh has announced a three-day shutdown of public and private offices, including banks, while students prepare for a long march. The new wave of protests demands the resignation of Hasina and her cabinet, alongside a non-cooperation campaign advising citizens not to pay taxes and migrant workers not to use banking systems for remittances.

The violence has claimed at least 93 lives and injured thousands, with many suffering bullet wounds, The Daily Star reported. Tensions have further escalated as ruling Awami League members clashed with anti-government demonstrators, exacerbating the unrest.

The protests erupted over demands to reform the quota system for civil service jobs, which reserves positions for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans. The situation worsened after students opposed a policy that allocated government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violent attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka.

(With ANI Inputs)

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