Sheikh Hasina resigns and flees Bangladesh as nationwide protests and violence escalate, marking the end of her two-decade rule. Image: (Getty Images)
Thousands of protesters storm Hasina’s residence as she flees to India, marking the end of her two-decade rule. Image (Getty)
(The Post News)- Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has relinquished power and fled the country amidst an unprecedented wave of violence and nationwide unrest. The 76-year-old leader departed for India by helicopter on Monday as protesters breached her official residence in Dhaka.
Hasina’s resignation signifies the culmination of her prolonged rule, marked by economic growth but also criticized for its increasingly authoritarian nature. The recent surge in violence has resulted in nearly 100 fatalities on Sunday alone, with a total of 150 lives lost and thousands injured last month.
The unrest, spearheaded by student groups, initially erupted in June over the reinstatement of the civil service quota system. The protests, led by Students Against Discrimination, had momentarily subsided after the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke the quota system but reignited last week. Protesters now demand a public apology, restoration of internet services, reopening of educational institutions, and release of detained individuals.
The intensifying protests have transformed into a movement calling for Hasina’s ouster, seeking justice for last month’s victims. Critics and human rights groups have accused her government of employing excessive force, a claim the government refutes. Initially, Hasina’s government denied student involvement in the violence, blaming opposition parties instead. However, after Sunday’s clashes, Hasina labeled the perpetrators as terrorists attempting to destabilize the nation. Student groups have rebuffed her offer for dialogue to resolve the crisis.
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