Bangladeshi PM Steps Down, Flees Country Amidst Massive Protest

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country following weeks of intense and deadly protests.

The resignation was officially announced by General Waker-Uz-Zaman in a televised address, marking the end of Hasina's 15-year rule. The announcement came after hundreds were killed in violent clashes between protesters and security forces.

The protests, which began as student-led demonstrations against the civil service quota system, escalated into a broader movement demanding Hasina's resignation.

Students argued that the existing quotas unfairly benefited loyalists of Hasina's ruling party, the Awami League.

Despite Hasina's claims that the protests were organized by "terrorists who want to destabilize the nation," the unrest continued to grow.

On the day of her resignation, thousands of protesters stormed Hasina's official residence, the Ganabhaban, setting fire to government offices and breaking into the homes of other government officials.

Local media reported that Hasina escaped her residence minutes before it was overrun by protesters. She was flown to India, accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, and landed at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad at 5:36 pm.

PM fleeing the Country

General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in his address, urged the public to trust the armed forces and promised a full investigation into the violence.

He stated, "Please trust the armed forces. I am taking full responsibility to protect all lives and property... Every single death will be investigated, every atrocity will be discussed."

The protests had intensified over the weekend, with dozens killed on Sunday alone. The government's response included imposing a curfew and an internet shutdown, which was partially lifted on Monday morning. Despite these measures, the unrest continued, culminating in Hasina's departure.

Celebrations erupted in the streets of Dhaka following the news of Hasina's resignation. Rakibul Islam, a student protester, expressed his elation, saying, "It seems that we have been liberated again. I am over the moon. I am going to celebrate this victory for a long, long time."

Hasina's departure marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's political history. Having served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024, she was the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history.

Her tenure saw both economic growth and massive political turmoil, including accusations of electoral dishonesty, human rights abuses, and democratic backsliding.