Army announces interim govt after PM flees

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country yesterday following weeks of deadly demonstrations. Thousands of protesters stormed the official residence of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and visuals going viral on social media showed rampaging mobs vandalising and looting the place.

A mob of protesters also occupied the Parliament building in capital Dhaka.

Videos on social media showed some protesters standing on the benches in the House while others are seen casually sitting and smoking cigarettes with their feet up.

The removal of Hasina on Monday followed weeks of deadly protests and appears to have averted the threat of further bloodshed. The focus now moves to who will control the South Asian country.

In an address to the nation, Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government will now run Bangladesh and called for calm.

Hasina, who ruled the country for close to two decades, boarded a military helicopter on Monday, an aide told Al Jazeera, as huge crowds ignored a national curfew to storm her palace in Dhaka.

Her resignation came after 300 people died in weeks of protest that the authorities sought to crush. A night of deadly violence on Sunday killed close to 100 and a curfew was called.

The streets were patrolled by soldiers on Monday. However, protesters remained defiant and called for a march on Dhaka as crowds swelled in the capital.

Huge numbers then stormed the Prime Minister’s palace, preventing Hasina from delivering a speech. By early afternoon, the mood on the street had turned to one of celebration after the news of the Premier’s departure spread.

Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman was eager to try to reassure the country. He urged citizens to place trust in the Army, which, he said, would return peace to the country.

“We will also ensure that justice is served for every death and crime that occurred during the protests,” he said, calling on the public to exercise patience and cease any acts of violence and vandalism.

“We have invited representatives from all major political parties, and they have accepted our invitation and committed to collaborating with us,” the General added. (Al Jazeera)

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