Bangladesh President dissolves Parl, paves way for fresh elections

Interim govt taking shape with Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as its head

In a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, setting the stage for fresh elections and the formation of an interim government. This move comes just a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abruptly resigned and fled the country following weeks of violent anti-government protests.

The political upheaval reached a critical point on Monday when the army took control of the situation, and the death toll from the violence, which also saw attacks on temples, rose to 440.

The AntiDiscrimination Student Movement, which spearheaded the massive protests, announced that 84-year-old Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus has agreed to lead the interim government. Sheikh Hasina, 76, is currently in India.

The protests have left a trail of destruction, with numerous Hindu temples, households, and businesses being vandalised. Women were assaulted, and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League, the party led by Hasina, were killed in the violence that erupted after her departure, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

President Shahabuddin met with key coordinators of the student movement at the Bangabhaban (presidential palace) to discuss the current situation and the formation of the interim government, media reports stated.