Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned after weeks of violent protests by students that left not less than 300 people dead.
Confirming Ms Hashina’s resignation on Monday, August 5, 2024, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said an interim government will be formed immediately.
The Army Chief, after a meeting with leaders of different political parties, excluding those from Hasina’s Awami League Party, told journalists that justice would be done for all those killed during the protest that rocked the nation for weeks.
His words, “An interim government will be formed.
“Justice will be done for all those killings and atrocities, please keep confidence in the army,” the General said..
He also called on protesting students to remain patient and refrain from further violence.
Some protesters were seen dancing and chanting slogans against Hasina as they gathered at the Dhaka University campus – the initial site of the protests against the controversial public job quota system.
However, following the news of Hasina’s resignation, several Awami League offices and leaders’ homes across Dhaka and other areas were attacked and items looted.
Thousands of protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s official residence in Dhaka after she reportedly fled the country.
An official at the foreign ministry who pleaded anonymity confirmed that Hasina left for India in the afternoon.
Earlier on Monday, thousands of protesters again took to the streets and vowed to “march to Dhaka” to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister.
The violence took a different turn after Saturday’s call to civil disobedience by student leaders, who rejected a government offer to end violence through dialogue.
The authorities had given in to the students’ demands to reform an unpopular job quota system after protests in mid-July left more than 200 people dead.
