Sheikh Hasina resigns as Bangladesh PM; leaves for safer place; protesters enter Gono Bhaban
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tendered her resignation and has left the country along with her sister on August 5, 2024
Protesters joining from different places of the capital were seen storming Gono Bhaban, overturning furniture, smashing glass doors, and taking away different items.
| Photo Credit: Rabiul Alam
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tendered her resignation and left her residence for a safe place on August 5 following the ongoing mass protests that killed more than 300 people till yesterday.
A source close to Ms. Hasina confirmed this. “She wanted to record a speech. But she could not get an opportunity to do that,” the source added.
Also Read: Bangladesh protests LIVE Updates
Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the nations at 4:00 p.m. and said a transitional government would be formed. “Justice will be served for all the killings. Keep trust on army, we will work together,” he said.
The Chief also called upon all to be quiet and said they hold meetings with different political parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Jamat-e Islami.
Defying curfew and the police barricade, protesters opened the gates of the Gono Bhaban and entered the premises of the Prime Minister’s residence around 3:00 p.m. today. Thousands of people who took position at Shahbagh in the capital around also now heading towards the Gono Bhavan.
Protesters joining from different places of the capital are seen storming Gono Bhaban, overturning furniture, smashing glass doors, and taking away different items. The protesters also set fire to the party office of Awami League in Dhanmandi.
Strained U.S.-Hasina ties in focus, as opposition calls for “long march” on Dhaka
A day after 94 people were killed in aviolent protest demanding her resignation, students who are spear-heading the protest against her – under the banner Students Against Discrimination – began their ‘Long March to Dhaka’ with the sole aim of unseating her.
The government had totally suspended internet, including broadband services, banned all Meta’s platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, and even declared holiday for the next three days in a bid to diffuse the protest.
Also Read: On the student protests in Bangladesh | Explained
Fresh clashes resulted in six more deaths, taking the total toll since July to more than 300.
The students protest began in July when the government announced quota for families of freedom fighters in government jobs. Even after an Appellate Division of the Supreme Court dismissed the order, the protests didn’t relent as Ms. Hasina termed the protesting students as ‘razakar’ (traitor).
In a Facebook post, Ms. Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy who is currently living in the USA, wrote: “Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution… It means don’t allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty.”
Rabiul Alam is reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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