The Bangladesh Army, led by General Waker-uz-Zaman, announced on Monday plans to establish a transitional government following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina’s resignation comes amid widespread protests and escalating violence, forcing her to leave the capital, Dhaka.
In a televised address, General Waker-uz-Zaman confirmed the formation of a transitional government and noted that Sheikh Hasina had departed Dhaka, reportedly by helicopter.
Earlier reports indicated that Hasina resigned and fled the country following intense violence, described as some of the worst since the country’s independence more than fifty years ago.
Sources revealed that Sheikh Hasina and her sister had moved from the Prime Minister’s official residence to a safer location.
An earlier statement from AFP mentioned that Hasina intended to record a speech but was unable to do so.
According to German news agency sources, Hasina and her sister are now in West Bengal, India.
Protests in Dhaka saw thousands storming the Prime Minister’s residence, as depicted in footage from Bangladesh 24, showing crowds celebrating as they breached the official premises.
Meanwhile, internet services across Bangladesh have been severely restricted, affecting both mobile and landline connections. The measures have been confirmed by service providers and oversight organizations.
Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, urged security forces to prevent any coup and maintain constitutional order. In a Facebook post, Joy emphasized the importance of upholding the constitution and preventing any unelected government from taking power.
Security forces are patrolling Dhaka today as protestors prepare for further demonstrations. Analysts fear that the violence witnessed on Sunday could escalate further, with confrontations between government opponents and supporters, involving sticks, knives, and live fire from security forces.
