Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned amid ongoing tension in the capital, Dhaka. According to an international news report by BBC, Hasina has stepped down and fled to India. Reports indicate she traveled to Agartala via helicopter in the Tripura state of India.
The resignation came after thousands of citizens marched towards the Prime Minister’s residence during a demonstration, prompting her to move to a ‘safe place’. Earlier attempts by Hasina to release a video message were unsuccessful, as reported by the BBC Bangla service.
In response to the escalating crisis, Bangladesh Army Chief General Walker Zaman is currently in discussions with leaders of all political parties. He is expected to address the nation in the afternoon.
The death toll from the violent student protests against the reservation and quota system has reached at least 300. The BBC reported that clashes between police and protesters on Sunday alone resulted in at least 90 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Prime Minister Hasina, in a meeting with security agency heads, described the protesters as ‘not students but terrorists who want instability in the country’. In light of the unrest, internet service has been blocked across Bangladesh as of Monday.
