- Bangladesh: Prime Minister resigns after protests
Bangladesh's long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has finally 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. He also promised that those responsible for murders and other atrocities would be punished. He urged citizens to trust the army. The protests began in response to the reintroduction of a quota system for public jobs.
Just before 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.
Local TV footage showed thousands dancing and celebrating in Dhaka, 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, the protests were against the planned reintroduction of a controversial quota system in the public service, which would reserve more than half of the jobs for certain groups, allegedly benefiting supporters of Hasina's ruling party. Students initially demonstrated, demanding that public jobs be awarded based on merit. A court largely granted the protesters' demands, but the protests escalated due to the harsh response from security forces. They then demanded the resignation of the increasingly authoritarian leader, who was seen as out of touch. General discontent in the country is high.
Why is discontent in the country so high?
Many of Bangladesh's 170 million people struggle to make ends meet, despite remarkable economic growth under Hasina, which has made it the world's second-largest textile producer. High inflation and persistent high unemployment are major concerns.
Who is Sheikh Hasina?
Hasina is considered the world's longest-serving female prime minister, having been in power for 20 years - initially from 1996 to 2001, and then continuously since 2009. She has been accused of election rigging by the opposition. Her political rise began in the 1970s when her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country'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 there as an atomic physicist. She became the head of her party, the Awami League, in 1981. Human rights organizations have accused her of targeting critics, with thousands arrested. They also claim that freedom of speech and press freedom have suffered under her rule, while she has rewarded her loyalists generously.
The head of government attempted to suppress the protests from the start with firmness: 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.
Local media reports indicate that more than ten thousand people have been arrested in recent weeks. There have been over 300 deaths during the demonstrations, many of whom 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 transition government could be bumpy. Hostility between parties is widespread and deeply rooted, even at the local level, according to the "New York Times".
The EU called for calm and restraint. "It is crucial to ensure a orderly and peaceful transition to a democratically elected government - with full respect for human rights and democratic principles," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels. Arbitrarily detained persons should be released immediately.
The military, led by Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman, will oversee the transitional government following Hasina's resignation. The military has promised to bring those responsible for the violence and atrocities during the protests to justice.
The transition process may face challenges, as hostility between political parties in Bangladesh is widespread and deeply-rooted, even at the local level.
