By EFE
05 Aug 2024, 10:16 AM EDT
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday and left the country after weeks of widespread violence on the streets following student protests that have left nearly 300 dead.
Hasina left the country by military helicopter at 2:30 p.m. local time, accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, local outlet Prothom Alo reported, Channel 24 reported. Sources cited by the outlet said they left for India.
Thousands of people had gathered outside the prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka on Monday. After news of her departure was made public, many of them entered the building, according to television images.
Bangladeshi Channel 24, meanwhile, showed footage of dozens of citizens at the official residence, Ganabhaban, carrying away furniture, refrigerators and crockery in a victorious mood. Many of them stopped to wave to the television cameras, arms raised after months of protests.
Protesters took to the streets despite a curfew ordered by the government last night, in response to a day of violence in the context of student protests that began five weeks ago.
Broadband and mobile internet services were also disrupted for around two hours on Monday, according to independent cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks.
Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman is expected to make a statement in the coming hours.
Hasina’s resignation comes after five weeks of student protests that began peacefully but turned violent amid complaints of harsh police repression of demonstrators.
Nearly 300 people, mostly students and civilians, were killed during the violent clashes that plunged Bangladesh into chaos.
The student protests began to demand an end to public employment quotas they consider discriminatory in one of the world’s poorest countries, but ended with demands for the resignation of Hasina and her government after the deaths of protesters.
Hasina took office in January for her fourth consecutive term after clearly winning an election that was boycotted by the opposition.