Bangladesh PM Resigns, Flees After Weeks of Deadly Protest

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Facts

  • Following weeks of protest in which over 300 people have died, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and left the country, the nation's Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed on Monday.[1]
  • 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 pledging to 'protect your life and property.'[2][3]
  • Hasina reportedly left the country on a military helicopter after protesters ignored a national curfew and stormed her official residence in Dhaka. Unconfirmed reports suggest she briefly landed in India and is headed to London.[4]
  • 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.[5]
  • 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.[6]
  • Last week, protesters 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.[7]

Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]NDTV.com, [3]Guardian, [4]France 24, [5]Associated Press, [6]Verity and [7]BBC News.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by The Economic Times. 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 effectively address dissent cost her her long rule.
  • Narrative B, as provided by BBC News. Hasina's departure is the culmination of an increasingly autocratic rule, which included the jailing and killing of 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.