Bangladesh Prime Minister resigns as Military Chief announces Interim Government

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday following violent protests against her administration.

According to Bernama, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced in a national address that an interim government would be established.

The military chief appealed for calm and called for an end to the mass protests led by students.

He urged the public to trust the military to restore order. 

“We have invited representatives from all major political parties, and they have accepted our invitation and are committed to working with us,” he said.

The military chief promised that those responsible for violence against protesters would be held accountable.

“We will also ensure justice for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he added.

Sheikh Hasina, 76, and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, left the capital Dhaka by military helicopter and headed to India, according to Bangladeshi media.

Protesters had previously stormed the Prime Minister’s official residence, Ganobhaban.

She intended to make a statement before leaving but did not have the opportunity due to the rapidly unfolding events.

Hasina’s downfall followed weeks of protests initially targeting the government job quota system, which later evolved into a large-scale movement against the Awami League government.

More than 300 people have died and thousands have been injured in the unrest since mid-July, when Hasina’s government launched a crackdown on demonstrators.

At least 98 people were killed in violent clashes on Sunday.

Hasina had governed the country of 170 million people from 1996 to 2001 and again since 2009.

She won her fourth consecutive term and fifth overall in January this year in a parliamentary election boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Security has been heightened along the India-Bangladesh border amid reports that Hasina may cross into India via the Tripura border.