SRINAGAR: Jubilant crowds took to the streets of Dhaka on Monday morning, waving flags and even dancing atop a tank, before hundreds broke through the gates of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, international media reported. This dramatic scene unfolded as Bangladesh faced some of the most severe unrest in recent history.
Local broadcaster Channel 24 aired images of ecstatic crowds pouring into Hasina’s compound, waving to cameras as they celebrated. Earlier, a source close to the Prime Minister confirmed she had left her residence for a “safer place.”
Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to Agartala, India, after protesters stormed her palace in Dhaka. This ended her 15-year rule during which she hanged people for political disagreements.
Amidst the chaos, Bangladesh’s army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the military will form an interim government. Reports indicate Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, have left the country.
The unrest, initially sparked by protests against civil service job quotas, has escalated into broader demands for Hasina’s resignation. The Prime Minister’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, issued a strong message on Facebook, urging the security forces to prevent any takeover of the government. “Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution,” Joy stated. “Don’t allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty.”
Sunday marked the deadliest day of protests, with at least 94 people killed, including 14 police officers. Clashes between protesters and government supporters, involving sticks and knives, led security forces to open fire. This brings the death toll since early July to at least 300, according to an AFP tally.
Despite curfews and internet restrictions, the protests continued unabated. Offices and over 3,500 factories were shut down as demonstrators flooded the streets of Dhaka. The Business Standard newspaper estimated the number of protesters to be as high as 400,000, though this figure remains unverified.
The international community is closely watching the situation. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk condemned the “shocking violence” and called for an end to the unrest. Ali Riaz, a politics professor at Illinois State University, described the situation as “an unprecedented popular uprising,” emphasizing the severe state response and widespread societal participation.
Former army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan demanded the immediate withdrawal of troops and allowance for peaceful protests. The army’s approach has notably shifted, with some soldiers and police refraining from intervening in the protests, a stark contrast to the deadly crackdowns of the past month.
This crisis recalls the political turmoil of January 2007, when the military declared an emergency after widespread unrest and installed a caretaker government for two years. The current protests began over a job quota system that reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups. Despite the scheme being scaled back by the top court, the unrest has persisted, reflecting deep-seated dissatisfaction with Hasina’s administration.
As Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture, the future of Hasina’s leadership remains uncertain. The nation awaits General Waker-Uz-Zaman’s address, hoping for clarity and a path forward amidst the turmoil. The world watches closely as Bangladesh navigates this pivotal moment in its political history.
Before the final showdown, most medical students from Jammu and Kashmir had reached home. Almost 3500 students from Jammu and Kashmir are enrolled in various medical schools in Bangladesh.
