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Interim government to be formed in Bangladesh, confirms Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman as Sheikh Hasina flees nation amid protests

by TRANS WORLD FEATURES | @twfindia 05 Aug 2024, 07:01 am

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government, with the participation of all parties, will be formed to run the affairs as Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on Monday in the face of violent protests that spiralled out of control and plunged the South Asian nation into chaos and turmoil. The death toll has risen to 300 with violence that began with an anti-quota movement claiming 98 lives since Sunday.

The Army chief made the announcement just moments after Sheikh Hasina, who came to power for another term earlier this year by winning a landslide general election, left the country with her sister Sheikh Rehana in a military helicopter.

 “After holding a fruitful discussion with all political parties, we have decided to form an interim government. We will speak with President Mohammed Shahabuddin now to resolve the situation," the Army chief said. 

"Cooperate with us. We will do justice and there would be trial for every death and injustice done. Stop the violence. We will work towards a proper solution. We cannot achieve anything through violence. Stop all anarchy" : Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman told a press conference.

Despite no official confirmation, a section of the media reported Hasina and her sister arrived in the Indian city of Agartala after leaving the nation.

Live Blog: The Bangladesh Crisis Spirals: Sheikh Hasina flees Palace, Interim Govt to take over

Meanwhile, a large number of people stormed into the official residence of the PM after reports emerged that she had left Bangladesh. 

After Sunday, Bangladesh continues to witness yet another day of violence and deadly clashes between protesters and police.

A large number of people are reportedly taking out processions in various corners of the country including in the capital Dhaka city.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had earlier urged the security forces via a Facebook video to foil any attempts to overthrow her government. 

At least six people lost their lives during clashes with the police in Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas of the capital city on Monday, said reports.

At least 98 people have died in the fresh round of violence which is sweeping across the nation as the protesters demanded the Prime Minister to resign.

Bangladesh last month witnessed violent protests over job quota system.

Hasina, who was the longest-serving PM of the country since independence, earlier blamed the opposition for capitalising on the situation and carrying out deadly attacks in the country.

Earlier this year, Hasina formed the government for the fourth straight term.

Why Bangladesh witnesed protests on quota?

Bangladesh students had been wanting the government to change the system which reserved a third of public sector jobs for the relatives of veterans of the country’s war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Demanding for recruitment based on merit, the students called the quota system discriminatory as the protest turned into an uprising against the Hasina government.

Stipulating that 93 percent of recruitments will be on merit now, Bangladesh Supreme Court last month scrapped most of the quotas in government jobs that had led to massive protests in July.