Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigns, flees country in copter, hints of seeking refuge in India

DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned from her post as the agitation against the government intensified in Bangladesh. After resigning as Prime Minister, Hasina flew in a helicopter from Dhaka. There have also been reports that she has taken refuge in India. The Bangladesh Army is moving to take control and had reportedly given a 45-minute ultimatum to the Prime Minister to step down and shortly she resigned.

The Bangladeshi media had released video footage of protesters storming the Prime Minister's residence. The agitation started in Bangladesh since June. The death toll has crossed 250. More than 70 people, including 14 policemen, were killed in nationwide clashes yesterday between protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and supporters of the ruling Awami League.

Following the agitation, the Supreme Court had ordered that the reservation quota in government jobs be nominal. This temporarily cooled the protests. However, on the first day of the non-cooperation movement demanding the resignation of the government, there was a clash between the protesters and the activists of the ruling party Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League.

Police fired tear gas and grenades. Curfew has been declared in the country. A holiday has also been announced from today to Wednesday. All the courts closed indefinitely. All social media including Facebook and WhatsApp are banned. Mobile internet was also disconnected. Students in Bangladesh have been protesting for more than a month demanding an end to reservation for government jobs.

In2018, the government stopped the 30 % reservation in government jobs to the family members of those who participated in the 1971Bangladesh liberation struggle, which was given since 1972. In June, after the Supreme Court of Bangladesh restored reservation, students started protesting demanding the Prime Minister's resignation. Then last month the Supreme Court reduced this reservation to 5% and the total reservation to 7% percent. The protestors have announced that they will continue the agitation until the government order is accepted and the court verdict is accepted.