Bangladesh protests force out PM Sheikh Hasina
Mass protests have been roiling Bangladesh for weeks. What started out peacefully has escalated to violent clashes with hundreds dead. Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been forced out of office — and the country.
Prime minister flees the country
Massive pressure from the streets in past weeks has toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's longest-serving prime minister. On Monday, thousands of people stormed her official residence. Insiders report she has fled to India with her sister.
Weeks of unrest
In July, students took to the streets to protest against quotas in the allocation of government jobs. Following a clampdown on dissent, these protests escalated into violent clashes and challenges to Hasina's rule, who had secured her fourth consecutive term in office in January. The opposition boycotted the vote at the time, deepening political divisions.
End of an era
On Monday, protesters celebrated Hasina's ouster in Dhaka. While most of the celebrations have been peaceful, vandalism has been reported. Some destroyed a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence from Pakistan in 1971. Aside from being the father of Hasina, he's also seen as the founding father of Bangladesh.
Escalation by the government
Over the weekend, activists had returned to the streets of Dhaka to demand justice for the victims who have been arrested and killed in the recent nationwide riots.
Brutal crackdown
While the weekend protests started peacefully, they turned violent as the government violently cracked down on dissent. According to local reports, around 300 protesters have been killed and hundreds more injured.
Sustained calls for justice
The recent unrest reflects the deep political tensions in the country. People in Bangladesh have been dissatisfied with Hasina's iron grip on power, which many have criticized as autocratic. In Hasina's absence, an interim military government has taken over the reins in Bangladesh.