Bangladesh PM Hasina’s Sudden Exit: Army Takes Control Amid Violent Protests
Bangladesh’s political situation suddenly changed, the Prime Minister’s residence fell, Hasina resigned and fled to India
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid escalating protests against a controversial quota system for government jobs, which have intensified calls for her removal following violent demonstrations that claimed nearly 300 lives. In her absence, Army Chief of Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the establishment of a transitional government and pledged an investigation into the violent suppression of protests, urging citizens to seek peaceful resolutions.
Hasina, the longest-serving female head of government in Bangladesh, faced significant criticism for her authoritarian governance, particularly after her re-election in January 2023, which was marred by allegations of human rights violations and electoral misconduct. The current turmoil raises concerns about regional stability, with experts warning that a chaotic transition could exacerbate both domestic and international issues.
Key Concepts
- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid escalating protests against a controversial quota system for government jobs.
- Violent demonstrations have resulted in nearly 100 deaths and thousands of arrests in Bangladesh.
- Army Chief of Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the establishment of a transitional government following Hasina’s resignation.
- The protests, initially focused on job quotas, have evolved into demands for the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power.
- Hasina’s departure led to vandalism of her residence, with protesters taking personal items and posting videos online.
- Sheikh Hasina is the longest-serving female head of government in Bangladesh, having been re-elected amidst significant controversy in January 2023.
- The United States and Britain have criticized the recent election results in Bangladesh as untrustworthy, citing concerns over human rights violations.
- Hasina’s governance has strained relations with Western nations while strengthening ties with India and China.
- Experts warn that Hasina’s resignation could lead to regional instability, with a peaceful transition being crucial for mitigating risks.
- The political unrest in Bangladesh is compounded by issues such as high unemployment, corruption, and climate change.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on Monday after weeks of violent protests against a quota system for government jobs that has become the biggest challenge to Hasina’s 15-year rule. Thousands of demonstrators stormed her official residence a day after riots left nearly 100 people dead.
Reuters cited multiple media reports that Hasina, 76, flew to India on a military helicopter with her sister. CNN News 18 reported that Hasina arrived in Agartala, the capital of Tripura in northeastern India, on the Indian side of Bangladesh’s eastern border. Hasina’s next move is unknown.
Hours after Hasina fled, Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman announced in a televised address broadcast live to the nation that Hasina had resigned and would form a transitional government on the president’s instructions.
He promised that the military would investigate the bloody suppression of the student-led protests. “Keep your faith in the military; we will investigate all the killings and punish the perpetrators,” he said. Zaman also said he had ordered the army and police not to open fire under any circumstances.
The Associated Press said that before issuing the statement, Zaman met with opposition leaders, including the now-banned Islamic Conference, and members of civil society.
Reuters quoted Army Chief of Staff Zaman as saying that he had held “fruitful” talks with all the leaders of major political parties he “invited” and would soon meet with President Mohammad Shehabuddin to discuss the future direction of Bangladesh.
Zaman, who just took over as Army Chief of Staff on June 23, said that “the country is going through a revolutionary period” and called on people “not to return to the path of violence; please return to the non-violent and peaceful path.”
Last month, student-led protests broke out in Bangladesh against the government’s quota system for public jobs. The protests have since escalated into a movement to remove Hasina. Since then, Bangladesh has been mired in protests and violence. So far, the violence has left about 300 people dead, including nearly 100 on Sunday, including at least 13 police officers, thousands more injured, and more than 11,000 arrested.
After Hasina fled, protesters stormed the prime minister’s residence and took household items and food from the refrigerator. Videos on the X platform showed protesters lying on the bed in Hasina’s bedroom and showing off loudly.
Other videos showed protesters in Dhaka climbing onto a large statue of Bangladesh independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Hasina’s father) and starting to chisel off the statue’s head with an axe.
Hasina is Bangladesh’s longest-serving female head of government. She was elected for a fourth consecutive term in an election in January this year but was boycotted by her main opponent. Thousands of opposition members were arrested before the election, and the United States and Britain condemned the election results as untrustworthy.
Hasina has established relations with powerful countries such as India and China. However, under her leadership, relations with the United States and other Western countries have become tense. Western countries have expressed concerns about violations of human rights and press freedom in this Muslim-majority country of 170 million people.
Hasina’s political opponents have accused her of becoming increasingly authoritarian and posing a threat to Bangladesh’s democracy. Now, many say that the unrest is the result of such authoritarian tendencies.
The Associated Press said Hasina’s resignation could bring more instability to the country bordering India. Bangladesh is already facing a series of crises, from high unemployment and corruption to climate change.
AFP quoted Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, as warning that Hasina’s departure “will leave a huge vacuum.”
“If this is a peaceful transition, with an interim body taking over until elections are held, then the risks to stability will be small and the consequences will be limited,” he said.
“But if there is a violent transition or a period of uncertainty, it could bring the risk of more instability and problems both domestically and internationally.”