Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 04:13 pm
Dhaka: Army Chief Deploying the Stripped Waker-Uz-Zaman called upon the nation to remain peaceful at all costs, especially after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the capital yesterday, which was as a result of adamant demonstration, and has promised to look into the protesters’ demands by forming an interim government.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a television address to the country, assured people, “We will make an interim government.” He appealed to all not to escalate violence in the country, saying, “The country has suffered a lot; the economy has been hit; many people have been killed—it’s time to check the violence.” He also said the prime need of the hour is peace and stability.
General Waker is a career infantry officer appointed chief of army staff earlier this year. He expressed optimism that his speech would help cool things down. He has also promised that the new authorities will “prosecute all murders” following weeks of deadly protests.
Background of the Protests
The protests started over the reinstatement of a much-criticized quota system that sets aside over half of all civil service posts for certain groups, and continued even as Bangladesh’s highest court rolled back the plan. The movement attracted massive backing from large swathes of society, including film stars, musicians, and singers.
Sheikh Hasina Steps Down and Departs
Sheikh Hasina, who has led Bangladesh since 2009, fled the country following the most violent day of protests, which reportedly killed close to 100 people. In the evening, she left Dhaka by helicopter and was last reported to be headed for an unidentified city in India. Local media broadcast video of protesters storming her residence, cheering, and destroying a statue of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, one of the top Bangladesh national figures who played a key role in its independence.
Call for Restraint
General Waker urged the students and other protesters to maintain calmness and cooperate with the police. “Now the task of the students is to keep calm and help us,” the speaker sounded, emphasizing the co-operation in terms of goals on restoration of peace in the country.
But as Bangladesh now embarks on an interim government, the direction is still not very clear. The intervention of the military was done to serve two purposes: One was to restore order and the other was to redress the grievances of the protesters, yet the situation is still kind of unstable.