Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina may flee to London; Bangladesh Army forms interim govt

Sheikh Hasina

In a significant development, Sheikh Hasina stepped down as the prime minister of Bangladesh on Monday and fled to Tripura capital Agartala, following weeks of civil unrest in the country which claimed nearly 200 lives. Bangladeshi Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed the development and said that the military will form the interim government in the country.

In an address to the nation, the Bangladesh Army Chief requested protesters, who have stormed the Prime Minister's residence, not to "indulge in violence".

Hasina, along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, has reached Tripura in neighbouring India in a military chopper, from where they may leave for another country.

'BSF making necessary arrangements'

A News18 report earlier said that top officials of India's BSF made necessary arrangements to ensure safe passage for the former Bangladeshi premier.

Reacting to the situation, Bangladesh Law Minister Anisul Huq said, ""Situation is very volatile. What is happening, I myself don’t know."

The development comes a day after nearly 100 people were killed in fierce clashes between protesters and the ruling party supporters in different parts of the country.

Earlier today, protesters asked the general public to join a "Long March to Dhaka" in a signal that tensions were set to intensify in Dhaka.

Dozens have been killed over the last few days in clashes between the police and mostly student protesters demanding an end to the controversial quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971. Over 11,000 people have been arrested.

The incident is similar to the Sri Lankan civil unrest in 2022, which forced then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country on a military jet as protesters stormed his office.