Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Resigns and
Escapes as Protesters Overrun Palace
Los Angeles/Aug 05, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh
On Monday afternoon, Bangladeshi Prime Minister ‘Sheikh Hasina’ resigned and fled the country, concluding her 15-year tenure amid escalating violent opposition. Army chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman officially announced Hasina's resignation in a televised address, stating that an interim government will be formed in the coming weeks. Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters stormed Hasina’s official residence, demanding her removal.
Weeks of intense and bloody clashes between protesters and Hasina’s security forces reached a peak over the weekend, with dozens killed on Sunday alone. BBC News, a partner of CBS News, reported that Hasina had left the country. A source close to her revealed she had relocated to a "safer place."
Crowds celebrated peacefully, waving flags and dancing on tanks. Hasina's son called on security forces to prevent any takeover, while a senior advisor mentioned her resignation was a "possibility.""She wanted to record a speech but couldn't," a source close to Hasina told AFP.
Protests in Bangladesh, sparked by civil service job quotas last month, have escalated into widespread unrest against Hasina's 15-year rule, resulting in around 300 deaths in the past month, with nearly 100 killed on Sunday alone. In power since 2009, Hasina won her fourth consecutive election in January, amid allegations of rights abuses and misuse of state institutions.
The protests, initially about a quota scheme for government jobs, have continued despite a court-ordered reduction in quotas.
"Your duty is to keep our people and country safe and uphold the constitution," said Hasina's US-based son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, on Facebook. "Do not allow any unelected government to seize power."
Despite a curfew and restricted internet access, protesters continued to march in Dhaka after the deadliest day of unrest. Offices and over 3,500 garment factories were closed, and security forces barricaded routes to Hasina's office with barbed wire.
The Business Standard estimated up to 400,000 protesters filled the streets, tearing down barriers."The time has come for the final protest," said Asif Mahmud, a leader in the civil disobedience campaign. Sunday's clashes resulted in at least 94 deaths, including 14 police officers, bringing the total death toll to at least 300 since early July. Protesters and government supporters clashed violently, and security forces opened fire.
"The shocking violence in Bangladesh must stop," said UN rights chief Volker Turk."This is an unprecedented popular uprising," said Ali Riaz, a politics professor at Illinois State University and expert on Bangladesh. "The state's and regime loyalists' ferocity is unmatched."
Verified videos showed protesters destroying a statue of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's independence leader. Unlike previous crackdowns, security forces did not intervene during Sunday's protests."The walls are closing in on Hasina: She's rapidly losing support and legitimacy," said Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center. "The protests have gained immense momentum, driven by widespread anger and confidence in national support."
In a symbolic move, former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan demanded the government withdraw troops and allow protests."Those responsible for the country's misery must be brought to justice," he stated. The anti-government movement has drawn support from various segments of society, including celebrities, musicians, and singers.
News Source....Click Here
|
