- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country after a surge in nationwide unrest due to protests over government job quotas
- Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, bringing an end to her 15 years of leadership
- The chief of army staff declared that an interim government would take over right away
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has fled the office after her residence was overtaken by protesters who demanded that she resign.
The 76-year-old world’s longest-serving female head of government, Hasina, resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, bringing an end to 15 years of what the opposition labels as 'authoritarian rule,' and triggering nationwide celebrations.
Hasima reportedly fled to India
Hasina is said to have fled the country on Monday, August 5, in a military helicopter heading to India, her strong ally.
General Waker-uz-Zaman, the chief of army staff, declared on Monday that an interim government would take over right away and called on the public to continue trusting the army.
Zaman said, “I request you all to be a little patient, give us some time and together we will be able to solve all the problems,”
“Please don’t go back to the path of violence, and please return to nonviolent and peaceful ways,” he added.
Hasina began her tenure as prime minister in 1996 and was elected again for a second term in 2009.
Background story to Bangladesh protests
The protests started in July in Dhaka, initially spearheaded by students who were angry at a court's decision to reinstate a job quota scheme that had been abolished in 2018.
The policy allocated 30 per cent of government jobs to the descendants of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, many of whom are associated with Hasina’s Awami League party, the leading force in the independence movement.
An additional 26 per cent of jobs were designated for women, disabled individuals, and ethnic minorities, leaving approximately 3,000 positions for which 400,000 graduates are vying in the civil services exam. Unemployment affects one-fifth of Bangladesh’s 170 million population.
Protests against the quotas escalated after Hasina labelled the demonstrators as 'Razakars,' a term used for individuals who collaborated with Pakistan during the 1971 war.
The Supreme Court rescinded the job quota policy on July 21, determining that 93 per cent of job openings would be determined by merit.
Despite the policy change, protests persisted as students and other citizens gathered in renewed rallies. They demanded justice for the deceased and called for Hasina’s resignation.
Hasina labelled the protesters as 'terrorists' on Sunday, August 4.
More than 90 people died amid escalating clashes between security personnel and protesters, who were pressing Hasina to step down.
On Sunday, August 4, authorities imposed a 'shoot-on-sight' curfew beginning at 6 pm (12:00 GMT) and increased police and military presence on the streets to regain control.
But thousands of people defied the curfew and marched largely unrestricted early on Monday, August 5.
The situation changed swiftly around noon when protesters handed flowers to the military and officers returned the gesture with embraces, at that point, it was game over for the 76-year-old world’s longest-serving female head of government, Hasina.
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