Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 04:04 pm
After weeks of violent protests, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country on Monday. Despite voicing her intent to stay on in Bangladesh, her family had urged her to leave for safety reasons, according to her son Sajeeb Wajed Joy, a former Chief Advisor who is currently residing in the US.
Key Developments:
- Current Situation: Joy described the current situation in Bangladesh as anarchic. “I spoke to her this morning.
- Political Turmoil: Hasina’s resignation comes after violent demonstrations in June, triggered off by student groups demanding the abolition of a controversial quota system in government jobs, escalated into a mass protest to bring an end to her regime.
- Exile Details: The 76-year-old opposition chief was airlifted out of Bangladesh in a military helicopter on Monday. She travelled with her sister and initially went to India. She is expected to proceed to London, where she will apply for political asylum.
- Response by Sajeeb Wajed Joy: Recalling the political unrest, Joy expressed doubts over free and fair elections in near future. “We are hoping that there will be elections in Bangladesh, but at this time, with our party leaders targeted, I don’t see how free and fair elections would be possible,” he said. He said the Awami League is still the most popular party in the country and lashed out at the opposition BNP.
- Military Takeover: Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin issued an order releasing from jail the former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Khaleda Zia, just hours after Hasina’s resignation. The military now led by General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced it would form a caretaker government.
- Public Reaction: Images broadcast by Channel 24 of Bangladesh showed cheering crowds storming and looting Hasina’s official residence.
The exit of Sheikh Hasina is perhaps the biggest transition Bangladesh has seen so far-military-instituted scenario with unabated violence and uncertainty over the future.