Bangladesh protests : PM Sheikh Hasina quits, interim gov’t taking over

Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, has resigned and fled the country after weeks of deadly protests.
In an address to the nation, the head of the army, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, says an interim government will be formed and urges people to trust the military to restore calm.
Thousands of protesters have stormed Hasina’s residence in Dhaka, while many have taken to the streets of the capital to celebrate.
Student-led protests that began last month over governmental job quotas expanded into a nationwide antigovernment movement.
The demonstrators have been demanding justice for some 300 people killed in recent weeks.

Protesters have demonstrated a ‘selfless sense of justice’: BNP chairman

Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, says that Hasina’s resignation “proves the power of the people”.

“Together, let’s rebuild Bangladesh into a democratic and developed nation, where the rights and freedoms of all people are protected,” Rahman posted on X.

‘Only way out is ensuring people’s participation in decision-making process’

Saad Hammadi, a fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, has said the perpetrators of “brutalities” in Bangladesh must be brought to justice and held accountable.

“The new government of Bangladesh has the opportunity to do this by proactively inviting the UN to form a commission of inquiry and extending its full cooperation with the procedure. The international community must press for the same to uphold global justice and accountability under rules-based international order,” Hammadi said.

He added that the success of the new leadership will depend on the trust and confidence it is able to build with the people of the country.

“The job of the interim and subsequent government will be extremely challenging to stop the free fall of the economy and recover the state at a time when even the global economic and political orders are extremely chaotic.

“The only way to get out of this volatile situation is by ensuring people’s participation in the decision-making process, transitioning to a democratically elected transparent and accountable government at the earliest. ”