Al Jazeera

Following weeks of protest in which over 300 died, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country, the country's Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed on Monday.

NDTV.com

Guardian

Waker-Uz-Zaman told the media that he would form an interim government to run the country, adding that he had taken "all responsibility and promise to protect your life and property."

France 24

Hasina reportedly left the country on a military helicopter after protestors ignored a national curfew and stormed her official residence in Dhaka. Unconfirmed reports suggest she briefly landed in India and is headed to London.

Associated Press

The unrest began last month in response to quotas that reserved 30% of government jobs for kin of veterans of the country's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan. However, after police used violence to quell the protest, it turned into a national uprising.

Verity

Though Bangladesh's Supreme Court ruled that only 5% of the roles can be reserved for veterans' kin, the protests continued, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Hasina's ministers, an apology from Hasina, and the release of detained leaders.

BBC News

Last week, protestors hit the streets again, demanding Hasina's departure and justice for those killed. However, Hasina rejected the fresh demands. At least 90 people were killed on Sunday after anti-government protesters clashed with police.

Al Jazeera #

Following weeks of protest in which hundreds were killed, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country, the country's army chief confirmed on Monday.

Guardian #

Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman told reporters: "I am taking responsibility now and we will go to the president and ask to form an interim government to lead the country in the meantime."

A source close to Hasina said she fled by military helicopter after protestors ignored a national curfew on Monday and stormed her palace in the capital of Dhaka. Unconfirmed reports suggested she fled to neighboring India.

The unrest began last month in response to quotas that reserved a third of government jobs to veterans of the country's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan. However, after police used violence in an attempt to put down the protests, they turned into a nationwide uprising that demanded Hasina's departure as well as justice for those killed.

Associated Press #3676

According to reports, an estimated 300 people were killed during weeks protests. That figure includes at least 95 killed Sunday, including 14 police officers, in what was one of Bangladesh's most violent days in decades.

After taking control, Zaman said: "Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible. I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing." He added: "Now, the students' duty is to stay calm and help us."

After 15 years in charge, Hasina's grip on power in the country looked unshakeable. No one could have seen these events coming, even in spite of the recent protests that gripped the country.

BBC News #

Sheikh Hasina: How Bangladesh's protesters ended a 15-year reign

Rights groups have for years warned about Hasina's growing autocratic tendencies that included jailing and killing opposition activists. After the killing of 300 people, it was just a matter of time before people stood up and demanded her deposition.

Bangladesh PM has resigned and left country, army chief confirms

There's a 8% chance that there will be 10 or more armed forces conflict deaths between India and Pakistan in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

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Bangladesh PM Resigns and Flees Country After Weeks of Deadly Protest

Politics

Bangladesh

Governance

This is a sad end to Hasina's 15-year grip on power. She led the country through economic growth, so much so that in 2021, Bangladesh's per capita income surpassed India's. Yet her failure to address dissent effectively cost her her long rule.

The Economic Times

Sheikh Hasina's reign ends after 15 years: A look at Bangladesh’s 'iron lady'

Hasina's departure is the culmination of an increasingly autocratic rule, which included jailing and killing opposition leaders and activists. It was just a matter of time before people stood up against her repressive and corrupt acts and demanded her deposition.

Wikimedia Commons

Bangladesh: PM Hasina Resigns, Flees After Military Coup

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Bangladesh: PM Hasina Resigns, Flees After Military Coup

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