Army announces transitional government in Bangladesh
After the storming of the government palace in the capital Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down and flees to India, according to insiders. The military now takes control in Bangladesh and is reportedly holding talks with opposition parties. The German government is also concerned.
After weeks of mass protests in Bangladesh, the ruling prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has fled the South Asian country. A "transitional government" will now take over the leadership of the country, said army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman in a televised national address. He also promised that "those who have committed murders and other atrocities will be punished." He called on citizens to trust the army. Earlier, protesters had stormed Hasina's residence, and she fled abroad by helicopter, according to sources close to her. The protests were sparked by the reintroduction of a quota system for public jobs.
"We will form a transitional government," the army chief said in his televised speech. For this, he will speak with the main opposition parties as well as representatives of civil society - but not with Hasina's party. "The country has suffered a lot, the economy has weakened, many people have been killed - it's time to end the violence," the general added. "I take full responsibility." He hopes that the situation in the country will now calm down.
Earlier, anti-government protesters had stormed the government palace in the capital Dhaka. On TV, they were seen breaking through gates, looting furniture and books, or lounging on beds. Meanwhile, people on the streets celebrated, with some dancing on a tank.
Hasina was taken to a "safe location." "Her security team advised her to leave, she didn't have time to prepare," said a source close to her. Initially, the 76-year-old was evacuated from the palace in a convoy of cars and later flown out of her 170 million-strong country by helicopter. A foreign ministry official confirmed that she had flown to India. It is unclear whether she will travel further - she has family members in Britain and the US.
The flight occurred a day after Sunday's nationwide protests, in which tens of thousands of government opponents and supporters clashed, sometimes with knives, sticks, and batons. Security forces also fired guns into the crowd. According to AFP figures, 94 people were killed. This was the highest number of deaths in a single day since the protests against the government began in July, with a total of at least 300 people killed.
Students force prime minister to flee
Originally, the protesters went onto the streets against a quota regulation for the allocation of jobs in the public service, which they claimed favored supporters of Hasina. Over time, the demand for the resignation of the prime minister, who has been in power since 2009, became the goal of the protest movement, which gained more and more supporters from all walks of life. Film stars, famous musicians, and former generals also expressed their support, as did companies in the textile industry, which is important for the country's economy.
The forced flight of the prime minister by protesters could, according to South Asia expert Michael Kugelman, leave "a big vacuum". If there is a peaceful transition with a transitional government acting until elections are held, "the stability risks would be low", said the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington. "But if there is a violent transition or a period of uncertainty, that could lead to further destabilization and problems both internally and externally." The federal government also expressed concern. "It is important that Bangladesh continues on its democratic path," said a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin. "We now strongly advise against travel to Bangladesh." The government is "watching the situation very closely," the spokesman added. The situation is being closely monitored.
Hasina was re-elected in January in an election boycotted by a large part of the opposition. Her government has been accused of, among other things, misusing state institutions to maintain power and suppressing government critics - even to the point of extrajudicial killings of opposition figures.
Army in Control
Given the tense situation, Hasina's son had previously urged the country's security forces to prevent any coup attempt against his mother. "Your duty is to ensure the security of our people and our country and uphold the constitution," explained Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who lives in the US, on the online network Facebook.
Now, however, the army is in control in Bangladesh. In 2007, the military declared a state of emergency after political unrest and installed a transitional government supported by it for two years. Hasina then came to power in 2009.
The unrest in Bangladesh continues to escalate, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Following her forced flight due to the protests, the army has assumed control of the country.
The army chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, has pledged to form a transitional government and hold those responsible for atrocities accountable, in an effort to restore peace and stability to the nation.
