Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Resigns and Flees Country Amid Deadly Protests
Olusegun Omasan
2 min read
Sheikh Hasina has flown to India on a military helicopter as protesters in Bangladesh have reportedly stormed her official residence. This comes after weeks-long protests that have resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 people.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has resigned and fled to India after weeks of violent protests in the country.
Reports of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, resigning have been confirmed by the army and officials from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.
According to the country’s leading national newspaper, she and her sister traveled to India by military helicopter.
Reuters reports that they are taking “safe shelter” away from her official residence.
At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died in clashes in the capital on Sunday, according to local news, while hundreds more were injured.
At least six people were reportedly killed in clashes between police and protesters in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas on Monday.
The demonstrations began with students seeking to end a quota system for government jobs, but clashes with police and pro-government activists escalated into violence that left more than 200 dead last month.
That triggered more protests demanding accountability from the government, which have grown into calls for Ms Hasina, who has been leading the country since 2009, to step down.
Ms Hasina is reported to have fled the country as anti-government protesters vowed to march to the capital to demand her resignation on Monday.
Broadband internet and mobile data services have been restored across Bangladesh after a blackout.
