Bangladesh Protest: In a sudden turn of events, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and has been reported to have left Dhaka amid spiraling violence and political turmoil in the South Asian nation. Reports received by AFP from local sources indicate that Hasina, along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, left from Ganabhaban, the Prime Minister’s official residence, at about 2:30 pm on Monday. The two are said to have flown out of the place aboard a military helicopter for a “safer place,” sources added, saying they were heading towards India.
Violent Protests Lead to Resignation
The resignation comes after weeks of violent protests across Bangladesh, where demonstrators burned tyres and vandalized vehicles. It began with student groups who were demanding an overhaul of the job quota system. Those protests soon turned violent, killing at least 150 and wounding thousands. The ‘Students Against Discrimination’ group has been at the forefront of demonstrations since students last month began protesting. The group has led recent demonstrations, calling for an apology from Hasina, restoration of internet services, the reopening of educational institutions, and release of those detained.
Protests Evolve from Quota Demands to Resignation Call
While the protests began by demanding reforms in the quota system, their momentum picked up after the Supreme Court slashed almost all quotas on 21 July. However, even the apex court’s intervention failed to quell the student-led agitation, which snowballed into a movement demanding Hasina’s resignation. The protesters charge her government with using excessive force during the violence and term the continuing agitation as a movement to ensure justice for the victims.
The situation escalated over the weekend with the student group proclaiming a nationwide non-cooperation movement with the explicit condition: Hasina must resign. The Government of Prime Minister Hasina was accused of unleashing excessive force on protesters. a charge the administration denies, claiming the violence is instead being caused by opposition parties and alleged terrorists and not students.
Economic Strain Fuels Unrest
Stagnant private sector job growth and a limping economy have contributed to the unrest in Bangladesh. With about 32 million young people out of work or study in a population of 170 million, stable wages and benefits continuous employment in public sector jobs underpin much of the protests.
These are young people who have seen through the country’s major economic problems, such as high inflation and shrinking dollar reserves. The event has added more political instability, with Hasina’s resignation adding to it, making further times ahead uncertain for the nation.
