Massive protests: Bangladeshi PM resigns, flees to India
Angry protesters storm her residence in the capital Dhaka
Bangladesh's army chief, Waqarul Zaman, announced on Monday his intention to form an interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina submitted her resignation and left the capital under pressure from massive protests.
"We will form an interim government," Waqarul Zaman said in a televised address on state television, confirming the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, who a source close to her had reported had left Dhaka by helicopter to India.
Mass protests in Bangladesh
Earlier today, thousands of Bangladeshi protesters stormed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence in Dhaka after she left it amid massive protests calling for her resignation.
A broadcast by Bangladesh 24 channel showed scenes of crowds storming Hasina's official residence and waving to the camera in celebration.
Sheikh Hasina resigns, flees
A source told AFP that Sheikh Hasina "left with her sister" the official prime minister's residence in the capital "for a safer place", adding that she "wanted to record a speech, but did not have the opportunity to do so".
Bangla Spring: Nearly 1,000 comrades murdered, yet Bangladeshi youth rise again, defy the terrors of dictator #SheikhHasina and are making a history!
— Sultan Mohammed Zakaria (@smzakaria) August 5, 2024
These powerful videos bring tears to my eyes. I wish I were there in person to witness it! #Bangladesh #Democracy pic.twitter.com/m65NA4tgrO
Several sources also confirmed that Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister of Bangladesh before fleeing the palace.
Hasina, 76, has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and won a fourth term in January elections that saw no real competition.
The protests began in early July over the reintroduction of a quota system for job allocations, which the Supreme Court has since curtailed.