Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly fled Dhaka as violent protests erupt across the capital, with demonstrators storming her official residence, Ganabhaban.
According to a source close to the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina and her sister have left Ganabhaban for a safer location amid escalating unrest. The Prime Minister had planned to address the nation but was unable to make a public statement due to the intense situation.
Key Details:
- Protests and Violence:
- Hundreds of thousands of protesters have defied a curfew and taken to the streets, marching towards the Prime Minister’s residence.
- Protesters breached security barriers, with armed soldiers and police struggling to contain the crowds using armored vehicles and barbed wire.
- Casualties:
- The violence has resulted in 98 deaths in recent clashes, raising the total death toll since the protests began to over 300.
- Current Situation:
- The protests, initially sparked by grievances over civil service job quotas, have expanded into broader demands for Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation.
- The movement has garnered widespread support from various sectors of Bangladeshi society, including celebrities and public figures.
- Government Response:
- Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman is expected to address the nation in response to the crisis.
- Sheikh Hasina’s son has called on security forces to prevent any potential takeover of the government.
The unrest marks one of the most severe challenges to Prime Minister Hasina’s 15-year rule, as the nation grapples with one of its most significant political crises in recent history.
TOPICS:
Sheikh Hasina