Dhaka: Bangladesh’s embattled PM Sheikh Hasina (76) on Monday resigned and fled the country following more than a month of deadly demonstrations that began as protests against job quotas and swelled into a movement precipitating the end of her 15-year rule.
Even as a military aircraft carrying her and her sister touched down at Indian Air Force’s Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, Bangladesh army quickly stepped in to fill the power vacuum. After landing in Ghaziabad, she was moved to a safe house in Delhi. He next plans were not known. As news of Hasina’s departure spread, crowd took to the streets there, some clambering on her father and Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s statue and smashing it with hammers. Many went on a ransacking and looting spree inside her residence. A mob vandalised Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in city’s Dhanmondi. Four Hindu temples also suffered “minor” damages.
Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman spoke to the nation, assuring people that an interim govt would be formed and that he had met members of most political parties. At night, President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of prisoners from the protests as well as jailed ex-PM Khaleda Zia and other opposition leaders.
The home of Dr Wajed Miah, Hasina’s husband, was not spared. The Awami League office in the capital was also set on fire. The crowd also entered the Parliament building. People were seen taking things from inside the parliament building. A large number of protesters broke through the main gate of the police headquarters and ransacked the building.
The month-long protest left at least 356 people died. The violence was not restricted to Dhaka. In the eastern city of Sylhet, offices of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police were reportedly set on fire, while the homes of several councillors were attacked. At least eight people were burned to death and 84 others suffered injuries after unidentified arsonists torched a residential hotel owned by Shahin Chakladar, general secretary of Jashore district Awami League.
Protesters want Muhammad Yunus to lead govt
Key organisers of Bangladesh’s student protests have said Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus should head an interim government. Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old student who spearheaded the protest movement, said in a video post that Yunus had consented to take over. “We want to see the process rolling by the morning,” Islam said. “We urge the president to take steps as soon as possible to form an interim government headed by Dr Yunus.”
14 Gujarat students return
Days before violence escalated in Bangladesh, the majority of medical students from Godhra and other areas in Central Gujarat studying there had returned home as their colleges gave them a break. A couple of students had, however, stayed back as their courses were at a crucial junction. Mohammad Shahid, principal secretary, administrative reforms and training, NRI division, said that Gujarat govt has not received any information either from the union govt or the family members of students who are stranded in Bangladesh. "The state govt coordinated the return of 14 students from Bangladesh earlier, but since then there has been no communication regarding stranded students.”
