Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also said to have recently resigned and disappeared amid anti-Hasina government demos. Army Chief Waker Uz Zaman said that an Armed High Coordination Council would be formed to form an interim government to bring the situation that is under its control and also to bring a change in power peacefully.
Protests and Resignation
Violent protests began in Dhaka on Monday where protesters invaded the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence. Programs on Channel 24 include pictures of over three hundred youths looting the building and taking property, and foodstuffs among others. Bangla BBC News said that the former PM and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, 76, has sought political asylum in Agartala, the capital of Tripura in India.
To this date there has been no official word from the government about Hasina’s resignation but army chief Waker Uz Zaman confirmed on state television and it is wanted to report that she has resigned. “The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been affected negatively, many people die — it is time to avoid violence,” he said while holding a hope that the event would be followed by a positive change.
Before that, Waker Uz Zaman said that consultations had already been made with members of the opposition parties plus some representatives of civil society for the establishment of an interim government apart from Hasina’s Awami League party. To the public, he stated that he is ready and willing to bring an end to the crisis that is apparent in the country and seek collaboration with the president to bring change.
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Background of Protests
The demonstrations, which were originally against the government’s 30- -percent quota to place relatives of 1971 independence war veterans in government jobs, have snowballed into anti-Hasina rallies calling for her removal. Today, more than 300 people have been killed in the past month, as the authorities dismantled demonstrations, and thousands of detainees are being arrested. Of the fatalities, there have been at least ninety-eight reported cases of people killed due to police and protesters confrontation on Sunday.
During the protests, the government declared a total blackout and shoot-at-sight orders, which aggravated the populace’s fury. The schools and Universities throughout the country have been shut down and the protesters demanded for ‘Long March to Dhaka’ to escalate the campaign.
Efforts for Dialogue
Earlier Prime Minister Hasina had welcomed to talk to the student leaders and assured them to look into the matter concerning the violence. However, a coordinator for the protest movement rejected the proposal, insisting on a single demand: her resignation to overcome her reproaches and to gain independence as a woman.
The military presence implies that the Bangladesh situation is grave and the army chief has to speak to the nation shortly.
The global society is observing the situation in Bangladesh since the country is experiencing such political instability.
Report By: Sonali Sarkar
Publish By: Your News Sources