PM flees Bangladesh after weeks of deadly protests

Sheikh Hasina’s flight into exile ends 15-year stint in power

- SHWETA SHARMA

Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her post and fled the country after weeks of violent clashes between police and protesters left nearly 300 people dead.

Ms Hasina left the capital Dhaka at 2.30pm local time yesterday on a military aircraft, reported newspaper Prothom Alo. It said the prime minister and her sister were heading to a “safer place”. The flight into exile ended a 15-year second stint in power for Hasina, who has ruled for 20 of the last 30 years as leader of the political movement inherited from her father. He was assassinated with most of his family in a 1975 coup.

There was no immediate public statement from Ms Hasina’s office, but army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said in an address to the nation that the prime minister had resigned and the army was in talks to form an interim government.

He said he had held talks with leaders of major political parties – excluding Hasina’s long-ruling Awami League – and would soon meet President Mohammed Shahabuddin to discuss the way ahead. “The country is going through a revolutionary period,” said General Zaman, who took over as army chief in June.

“I request you all to be a little patient, give us some time and together we will be able to solve all the problems,” Zaman added. “Please don’t go back to the path of violence and please return to non-violent and peaceful ways.”

Thousands of student protesters, who have been demonstrating against the Hasina government for weeks, rushed into the prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka yesterday after she fled, defying a curfew. Footage aired by local TV channels showed apparent looting and vandalism at the Ganabhaban residence, with protesters seen leaving carrying chairs and what appeared to be a sofa.

Some people were seen climbing a large statue of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ms Hasina’s father, and chipping away at the head with an axe.