- Bangladesh: Prime Minister resigns after protests
Bangladesh's long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down after weeks of protests that left over 300 dead, the military confirmed. Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman announced that a transitional government would take over the country's leadership. "Those who committed murders and other atrocities will be punished," he promised, also urging citizens to trust the army. The protests were sparked by the reintroduction of a quota system for public jobs.
In the lead-up to Hasina's resignation, events unfolded rapidly: Thousands of protesters stormed Ganabhaban, Hasina's official residence in the capital Dhaka. They took furniture, pillows, even ducks, and posed for selfies in Hasina's bed. The 76-year-old was reportedly flown to India by helicopter, according to a foreign ministry official. Her further travel plans - she has family in the UK and US - were initially unclear.
TV footage showed thousands celebrating and dancing in Dhaka after Hasina's departure, including on the university campus where the protests began in July. Others looted Hasina's office and party colleagues' rooms, as well as the parliamentary building.
What was the protest about?
Initially, protests were against the planned reintroduction of a controversial quota system in public service, which would reserve more than half of positions for certain groups, allegedly benefiting supporters of Hasina's ruling party. Students initially demonstrated, demanding merit-based public jobs. A court largely granted their demands, but the protests widened due to harsh security force responses, ultimately calling for Hasina's resignation due to her increasingly authoritarian rule and perceived aloofness. General discontent in the country is high.
Why is discontent in the country so high?
Many of Bangladesh's 170 million residents struggle to meet their living costs despite remarkable economic growth under Hasina, which has made it the world's second-largest textile industry hub. High inflation and persistent unemployment are major issues.
Who is Sheikh Hasina?
Hasina is considered the world's longest-serving prime minister, having been in power for 20 years - first from 1996 to 2001, and continuously since 2009. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused her of election rigging. Her political rise began in the 1970s after her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president, was assassinated along with most of his family in a military coup. Hasina was in Germany at the time with her husband, who was working as an atomic physicist. She became chairperson of her Awami League party in 1981. Human rights groups criticize her for targeting critics, with thousands arrested, and for suppressing freedom of speech and press. Simultaneously, she rewarded her loyalists generously.
The head of government attempted to quell the protests from the start with harsh measures: she imposed curfews and deployed the army and police throughout the country. They used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas to disperse the crowds. She also repeatedly restricted internet access for extended periods.
According to local media reports, over ten thousand people have been arrested in the past few weeks. There have been over 300 deaths during the demonstrations. Many of the deceased had gunshot wounds, including protesters, police officers, members of Hasina's party, and journalists. Simultaneously, Hasina accused the opposition parties of sabotaging her government with the protests.
What happens next?
Observers suggest that Hasina's resignation after 20 years at the helm does not necessarily mean smooth sailing for the country. The process of agreeing on a transitional government could be rocky. Hostility between the parties is widespread and deeply rooted, even at the local level, according to the "New York Times".
The military acknowledged the role of the Government in implementing the controversial quota system, sparking the protests at the university campus. The formation and functioning of the transitional government will be closely scrutinized by the people, as they seek accountability and fair representation.
