Bangladesh protests force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina out
Mass protests have been roiling Bangladesh for weeks. What started out peacefully has escalated to violent clashes with hundreds dead. Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been forced out of office — and the country.
Primi minister fled the country
Massive pressure from the streets in past weeks has toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's longest serving prime minister. On Monday, thousands of people stormed her official residence. Insiders report that she has fled to India with her sister.
Week-long unrest
In July, students took to the streets to protest against quotas in the allocation of government jobs. Following a clampdown on dissent, these protests escalated into violent clashes and challenges to Prime Minister Hasina's rule, who had secured her fourth consecutive term in office in January. The opposition had boycotted the vote at the time, deepening political divisions.
The end of an era
On Monday, protesters celebrated Sheikh Hasina's ouster in Dhaka. While most of the celebrations have been peaceful, vandalism has been reported. Some destroyed a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence from Pakistan in 1971. Aside from being the father of Hasina, he's also seen as the founding father of Bangladesh.
Escalation by the government
Last weekend, activists had returned to the streets of Dhaka to demand justice for the victims who have been arrested and killed in the recent nationwide riots.
Brutal government crackdown
While protests started peacefully, they turned violent as the government violently cracked down on dissent. According to local reports, around 300 protesters have been killed and hundreds more injured so far. The protests have been ongoing since July.
Sustained calls for justice
The recent unrest reflects the deep political tensions in the country. People in Bangladesh have been dissatisfied with Hasina's iron grip on power, which many have criticized as autocratic. In Hasina's absence, an interim military government has taken over the reins in Bangladesh.