Bangladesh PM Hasina has resigned and left the country
Julhas Alam and Krutika Pathi |
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country, ending 15 years in power as thousands of protesters defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.
Shortly after local media on Monday showed the embattled leader boarding a military helicopter with her sister, Bangladesh’s military chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to seek the president’s guidance on forming interim government.
He promised the military would stand down and launch an investigation into the deadly crackdowns that fuelled outrage against the government, asking citizens for time to restore peace.
“Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible,” he said.
“I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing.
“Now, the students’ duty is to stay calm and help us.”
The protests began peacefully in late June, as students sought an end to a quota system for government jobs, but turned violent after clashes between protesters and police and pro-government activists at Dhaka University.
The government’s attempts to quell the demonstrations with force, curfews and internet shutdowns backfired, prompting further outrage as nearly 300 people were killed and leading to demands for an end to her 15 years in power.
On Sunday, nearly 100 people were killed as the protesters clashed with security officials and the ruling party activists across the country.
with AP
AP
