Dhaka, Bangladesh – August 7, 2024
Bangladesh is reeling from a deepening political crisis after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid violent anti-government protests. The protests, led by students, have resulted in the deaths of over 20 leaders of Hasina’s party, Awami League, and hundreds more injured.
Hasina, who had ruled the country since 2009, resigned on Monday and landed at the Hindon Air Base in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad on a C-130 transport aircraft, where she is currently living at a safe house. Media reports suggest that she may seek political asylum in London.
The protests, which began in July, were sparked by a controversial quota system for government jobs, which allocated 30% of positions to families of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. The demonstrations escalated when Hasina refused to meet the students’ demands, citing court proceedings.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been chosen to head Bangladesh’s interim government, following the protests. The United States has expressed deep concern about the continued violence in Bangladesh and called on the country to respect democracy.
Neighboring Nepal has heightened security across its border and at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu due to the political turmoil in Bangladesh. The Supreme Court Bar Association President has urged India to arrest and return Hasina and her sister to Bangladesh.
The situation in Bangladesh remains volatile, with protests and violence continuing to erupt across the country. The international community is watching closely, calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.