Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to travel to London after arriving in India, as revealed by a source close to the Bangladesh Army. Hasina fled Dhaka amid ongoing protests and is reportedly making this trip as the situation in the South Asian country remains unstable.
On Monday, August 5, Hasina resigned from her position and left the country, as confirmed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in an interview. Khan stated, “Sheikh Hasina has resigned. I have been informed of her resignation.”
The 76-year-old Hasina departed Bangladesh following a month of intense and deadly anti-government protests. Despite enduring weeks of pressure to step down, she fled after a particularly violent day of unrest on Sunday, which resulted in around 100 deaths.
Earlier in the day, protesters had stormed Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka.
#1 is this C130 Hercules, widely suspected to be carrying the Prime Minister. https://t.co/NNGEBVYalG pic.twitter.com/yCdQJfLdxp
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) August 5, 2024
MUST READ: Sheikh Hasina Quits As Bangladesh PM, Flees Country Amid Unrest
Reports also suggested that Hasina’s helicopter is en route to Agartala in Tripura, India. BBC Bangla reported that she left Dhaka on a helicopter with her sister. The Indian government has reportedly approved her entry, and despite initial security concerns, top Indian officials are facilitating her arrival.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation and the imminent formation of an interim government to take over the administration.
In a televised address, he stated, “I’m taking all responsibility for the country. Please cooperate.”
He also mentioned that he had met with political leaders and informed them that the Army would handle law and order. Amid escalating protests, he instructed both the Army and police not to use force.
Ms. Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, resisted weeks of calls for her resignation but fled following a violent day of unrest on Sunday, which resulted in nearly 100 deaths.
According to sources, her security team advised her to leave in haste, leaving her with little time to prepare. The country experienced chaotic scenes from early morning, which led to Ms. Hasina’s resignation. Large crowds were seen waving flags and dancing on top of tanks in the streets, with hundreds eventually breaching the gates of her official residence.
Some protesters also vandalized statues of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a key figure in the country’s independence. Earlier, Ms. Hasina’s son had urged the security forces to prevent any attempt to overturn her 15-year rule.
