The prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has resigned and left the country, the head of the army confirmed, amid some of the worst violence since the birth of the south Asian country more than 50 years ago.
In a briefing to reporters, Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman announced he was assuming control at “a critical time for our country” and would establish an interim government.
“I am taking responsibility now and we will go to the president and ask to form an interim government to lead the country in the meantime.”
The US government commended Bangladesh’s army for its “restraint” on Monday and urged that formation of an interim government in the South Asia nation be democratic.
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Ms Hasina’s exit came after hundreds of people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations that began as protests against preferential job quotas and swelled into a movement demanding her downfall.
“The United States has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive. We commend the army for the restraint they have showed today,” a White House spokesperson said.
The White House and the State Department separately urged parties to refrain from violence and restore peace at the earliest. A State Department spokesperson said Washington welcomed the announcement that an interim government will be formed.
Bangladesh has been engulfed by demonstrations and violence after student protests last month against quotas that reserved a high portion of government jobs for certain groups escalated into a campaign to oust Ms Hasina, who won a fourth straight term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition.
The State Department said in January that the elections were not free and fair, and that Washington was concerned by reports of vote irregularities and condemned violence that took place.
United Nations spokesman Farhan Haq also addressed the situation on Monday. “We continue to call for calm and restraint and to urge all parties to respect the right to peaceful assembly and expression, Mr Haq said. “We urge security forces to protect those out on the streets of Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh.”
Ms Hasina (76), who ruled Bangladesh since 2009, fled by helicopter, a source close to the leader told Agence France-Presse news agency shortly after protesters had stormed her palace in the capital, Dhaka.
Celebrations erupted among crowds which had been on the streets of Dhaka for another day of protests.
The internet was cut for several hours overnight and residents told of raids and gunshots, including in the most affluent areas, before a planned mass protest called for Monday.
Ms Hasina’s government was accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench the government’s hold on power and to stamp out dissent, including through the killing of opposition activists.
The latest student-led protests began over a quota system they said disproportionately allocated government jobs to the descendants of freedom fighters from the 1971 independence war.
The government’s harsh crackdown on protests led to hundreds of deaths, which continued despite the supreme court overturning the quota law. Agence France-Presse reported there had been 94 deaths on Sunday.
The demonstrations escalated despite the scheme having been scaled back by Bangladesh’s top court. The anti-government movement had attracted people from across society – including actors, musicians and singers – in the south Asian country of about 170 million people.
During the briefing at army headquarters, Gen Zaman promised an investigation into the deaths.
A curfew was put in place on Monday and offices and factories were closed but protesters have still taken to the streets. Bangladeshi TV channels showed jubilant demonstrators dancing and chanting at locations across Dhaka. – Reuters/Guardian