At approximately 1430 local time (1930 UTC) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled Bangladesh with her sister Sheikh Rehana to India. The resignation came after violent protests over the weekend demanding Hasina’s resignation. The weekend protests followed a lull in demonstrations in the wake of the Supreme Court’s dissolution of a controversial job quota system on 21 July. Protesters had initially gathered in early June regarding the job quota system, and protests quickly became violent amid government attempts at suppression. Since early June, at least 300 people have been killed – including at least 95 since 4 August — and thousands of others were injured.
Shortly after the prime minister’s departure, at approximately 1500 local time, thousands of people broke into and vandalized the prime minister’s palace, the Ganabhaban, located in the Dhanmondi area in the capital Dhaka. Several of the offices for the ruling Awami League were also reportedly vandalized and set on fire even as demonstrators gathered in the capital in celebration of the Hasina’s resignation. Meanwhile in Chittagong, protesters held a victory march and set fire to the house of the city mayor. Vandalism also occurred in the city of Barisal, where the city’s Awami League office was attacked and set on fire. Nonetheless, in the wake of Hasina’s resignation, authorities restored access to broadband and mobile internet access. Additionally, at 1730 local time, authorities announced that operation would be paused for six hours at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (VGHS/DAC), after immigration personnel and other departments left the facility.
Analyst Comment: In a speech, the head of the military, General Waker-uz-Zaman, stated that a political transition is ongoing, and an interim government will be formed in the next few weeks. The general also urged protesters to return home. It is unclear who will lead the new government; however, a period of military rule seems likely. Nonetheless, student protesters have stated they will not allow the country to fall under fascism and that power must be handed over to the citizens and students. As the recent protests primarily demanded Sheikh Hasina’s resignation due to violence perpetrated against demonstrators during protests regarding a controversial government job quota system in June and July, it is possible violent demonstrations and unrest will dissipate. Regardless, even in the wake of Hasina’s resignation, a retaliatory crackdown against protesters or violent attempts to suppress demonstrations that remain cannot be ruled out.
