Bangladesh is at a critical juncture after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after weeks of protests against her government in which hundreds of people were killed.
Her exit followed a month-long, student-led protest movement that began as a student protest. The students had been protesting against a 30 per cent reservation in government jobs for relatives of freedom fighters who wrested independence for Bangladesh from Pakistan in a bloody civil war in 1971.
After the Supreme Court slashed the reservations to 5 per cent, student leaders put the protests on hold but the demonstrations spiralled into a mass uprising calling for Hasina’s resignation and democratic reforms.
The protesters defied the nationwide curfew and marched toward the prime minister’s official residence on August 5, Hasina was reportedly given a 45-minute ultimatum by the country’s security forces to resign and leave before angry mobs stormed her home.
Bangladeshi media reported that PM Hasina left for a “safer place” after hundreds of protestors stormed Gonobhaban — the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka.
Hasina arrived in India in a military transport plane of Bangladesh Air Force as thousands of protesters stormed and vandalised ‘Ganabhaban’ – the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka.
Several reports cited that she will be leaving for London soon.
With Sheikh Hasina reportedly resigning as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and fleeing the country amid an unprecedented protest led by the students, jubilant crowds were seen waving flags on the streets of Dhaka, even as scores of agitators stormed ‘Ganabhaban’, the official residence of the PM.
A section of the crowd also vandalised a statue of former Bangladesh President and the country’s independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka.
The house of Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also reportedly set on fire in Dhanmondi, an upscale area of the Bangladesh capital.
According to the local media, as many as 4 lakh protesters were on the streets of Dhaka, though the exact numbers were yet to be ascertained.
Earlier in an address to the nation, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Sheikh Hasina has resigned as the Prime Minister, and an interim government will be formed soon to run the country,
General Waker-Uz-Zaman also urged the citizens to keep their trust in the Bangladesh Army, asserting that the defence forces will ensure peace in the coming days. The Army chief also said that he will be meeting President Mohammed Shahabuddin soon.
The world responds
The UK government called for a United Nations-led probe into the unrest that led to the resignation of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK wants to see a “peaceful and democratic future” for the South Asian country as Hasina resigned and fled Bangladesh on Monday.
However, there was no mention of the asylum for Hasina, which the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister is seeking.
“The last two weeks in Bangladesh have seen unprecedented levels of violence and tragic loss of life… All sides must work together to restore calm under a transitional government,” David Lammy said in a statement.
“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks,” the UK Foreign Secretary said, adding that his country wants to “see action taken to ensure Bangladesh a peaceful and democratic future.”
The United States has said it is ready to work with the interim government of Bangladesh as the country charts a democratic future for its people.
“We continue to monitor developments in Bangladesh, and we obviously have seen the appointment of Muhammad Yunus as the leader of an interim government,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference.
“We think the interim government will play a vital role in establishing long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh,” Miller said responding to questions on the fast-moving development in Bangladesh.
The nationwide mayhem, following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster is set to have far-reaching implications transcending Bangladesh’s borders. Sheikh Hasina’s ouster comes as a setback for India too as the two nations shared good ties and relationship in the former’s tenure while the same wobbled when Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) held the reins of the country.
Canada’s response
Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement following unrest in Bangladesh, “Canada strongly condemns the human rights violations, deaths, torture, arbitrary arrests and lethal force used against the people of Bangladesh in recent weeks. We reiterate our deep condolences to all those impacted.
“During this transition, we urge all parties to respect and uphold democratic institutions and processes and the rule of law. It is vital that all those arrested in recent weeks be accorded due process in the justice system and that a full and impartial investigation be pursued to ensure accountability for crimes committed.
“Assuring the maintenance of a full Internet access is critical to allow people to access information and connect with their loved ones in Canada and worldwide.
“As a country committed to democracy, inclusive governance and the rule of law, Canada calls for a quick and peaceful return to a democratic and inclusive civilian-led government in Bangladesh. We urge the people of Bangladesh to unite around the principles of freedom and democracy upon which their country was founded.
“Respect for fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, are critical for democratic governance and to build peaceful and prosperous societies.
“Canada stands with the people of Bangladesh during these challenging times.”
