IRIA News

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly fled to India on a military helicopter as protesters in Bangladesh stormed her official residence. This development follows the deaths of nearly 300 people during weeks of anti-government protests.

Bangladesh is in the middle of its most severe civil unrest in recent history. At least 98 people were killed and hundreds injured in a single day August 4, 2024, as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The recent violent protest takes the overall death toll from weeks of protests to over 300, according to unofficial data. The government has not released official data on casualties amid the wave of protests. At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks.

Soon after the news surfaced about Hasina’s departure from her residence, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Hasina had resigned and an interim government would be formed to run the country.

In an address to the nation, General Waker-Uz-Zaman urged citizens to keep trust in the army, which he claimed would bring peace to the country. He said, “We will investigate all killings that have happened over the past few weeks.” He said he is now set to meet the president.

Anti-government protests

The protests, which began late last month, were initially sparked by student activists at Dhaka University opposing the controversial quota system in government jobs. This system reserves up to 30 percent of government positions for family members of veterans from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Protesters argue that the quota system is discriminatory, favoring supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party and disadvantaging other qualified candidates. They demand a shift to a merit-based system.

The quota system, established in 1972 and briefly abolished in 2018 before being reinstated, has long been a point of contention. Critics claim it perpetuates favoritism and corruption within the government. Hasina’s defense of the system has only intensified the protests, which have grown into a broader anti-government movement encompassing diverse segments of society.

What began as a student-led protest has expanded significantly. The movement now includes support from various sectors, such as film stars, musicians, and garment manufacturers, with social media amplifying the call for Hasina’s resignation. Rap songs and online campaigns have further mobilized public sentiment against the Prime Minister.

The 76-year-old, who has ruled since 2009 and secured a fourth consecutive term in January through elections boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is facing unprecedented pressure. Accusations of entrenching power through state institutions and suppressing dissent have fueled the unrest.

Escalation and government’s response

Sunday’s violence was among the deadliest days in Bangladesh’s recent history. Protesters have stormed and vandalized the Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister, who has fled the premises. The unrest has spread beyond Dhaka, affecting 39 districts with attacks on houses of public representatives, Awami League offices, police stations, and other government installations.

In response, the government has declared an indefinite nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm on Sunday, the first such measure during the current wave of protests. A three-day general holiday was announced starting Monday, and the government shut down internet services to curb the spread of information and coordination among protesters.

Demonstrators have blocked major highways and initiated a non-cooperation program, leading to severe clashes nationwide. Police stations and ruling party offices have become focal points of the violence. In Sirajganj, thirteen policemen were beaten to death, and the homes of two lawmakers were set on fire. The central district of Munsiganj saw a three-way clash involving protesters, police, and ruling party activists, resulting in two construction workers’ deaths and 30 injuries.

Further violence erupted in Pabna, Feni, Lakshmipur, Narsingdi, Rangpur, Magura, and other districts, with additional casualties reported. In Dhaka, a hospital was vandalized, and four garment factories were set on fire.

In a bid to quell the unrest, Bangladesh’s telecom providers were instructed to shut down 4G services, effectively disabling internet access. The protests, which had paused after the Supreme Court scrapped most quotas, resumed sporadically, demanding justice for those killed.