Thousands of protesters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, looted and vandalized the official residence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her resignation on Monday.
This event marked the
culmination of weeks of deadly protests that have shaken the South Asian nation
since its independence over fifty years ago.
According to reports from the
BBC, Hasina fled to India after stepping down.
Accompanied by her sister, the
76-year-old former leader took a military helicopter to the eastern state of West
Bengal.
The resignation came amid
widespread protests against Hasina’s government, sparked by a controversial
policy that reserved 30% of government jobs for the descendants of veterans
from Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence.
Chaotic scenes were captured
and went viral, showing protesters parading through the streets with items
taken from Hasina’s home. The looted items ranged from clothing and kitchenware
to furniture, livestock, and electronics.
Images circulating on social media
included a man wearing a saree while carrying a bucket of clothes and a young
man triumphantly holding a purple blouse.
In the wake of these events,
Bangladesh’s Army Chief, Waker-Uz-Zaman, announced plans to establish an
interim government.
Addressing the nation on state
television, the general, clad in military fatigues, stated, “I am taking full
responsibility.”
While it was not immediately
clear if he would lead the caretaker government, Waker emphasized the need to
restore order: “We will form an interim government. The country has suffered a
lot, the economy has been hit, and many people have been killed — it is time to
stop the violence.
“I hope after my speech, the
situation will improve.”
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